Psalms 56
Reading Time: 2 minutes Listen
Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me.
2 Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High.
3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
4 In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
5 Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.
6 They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.
7 Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God.
8 Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?
9 When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.
10 In God will I praise his word: in the Lord will I praise his word.
11 In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
12 Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee.
13 For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?
Public Domain KJV text from Wordproject.org
Psalm 56:1-13
In God I Trust
To the choirmaster: according to The Dove on Far-off Terebinths. A Miktam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath.
1Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me;
all day long an attacker oppresses me;
2my enemies trample on me all day long,
for many attack me proudly.
3When I am afraid,
I put my trust in you.
4In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
What can flesh do to me?
5All day long they injure my cause;
all their thoughts are against me for evil.
6They stir up strife, they lurk;
they watch my steps,
as they have waited for my life.
7For their crime will they escape?
In wrath cast down the peoples, O God!
8You have kept count of my tossings;
put my tears in your bottle.
Are they not in your book?
9Then my enemies will turn back
in the day when I call.
This I know, that God is for me.
10In God, whose word I praise,
in the Lord, whose word I praise,
11in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
What can man do to me?
12I must perform my vows to you, O God;
I will render thank offerings to you.
13For you have delivered my soul from death,
yes, my feet from falling,
that I may walk before God
in the light of life.
ESV Bible text displayed through the American Bible Society's Global Bible Widget
Psalm 56:1-13
Psalm 56
For the director of music. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” Of David. A miktam. When the Philistines had seized him in Gath.
1Be merciful to me, my God,
for my enemies are in hot pursuit;
all day long they press their attack.
2My adversaries pursue me all day long;
in their pride many are attacking me.
3When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
4In God, whose word I praise—
in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
5All day long they twist my words;
all their schemes are for my ruin.
6They conspire, they lurk,
they watch my steps,
hoping to take my life.
7Because of their wickedness do not let them escape;
in your anger, God, bring the nations down.
8Record my misery;
list my tears on your scroll—
are they not in your record?
9Then my enemies will turn back
when I call for help.
By this I will know that God is for me.
10In God, whose word I praise,
in the Lord, whose word I praise—
11in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can man do to me?
12I am under vows to you, my God;
I will present my thank offerings to you.
13For you have delivered me from death
and my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before God
in the light of life.
NIV Bible text displayed through the American Bible Society's Global Bible Widget
Commentary
After the past few years, who can’t relate to having some hard times? I love how David is so raw and honest with God. In this psalm he especially describes his fears and the troubles he has with people. Yet in spite of those who are trying to harm him, he puts his trust in God. He says about God, “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book" (v8 NLT). Then David reiterates his trust in God and gives Him praise.
Have you been afraid by the things you see around you, or by things happening in your life? I have. I have cried with friends as we pray for the salvation of our kids. I have cried in pain over loss. It encourages me to know that God knows. What can I do with my emotions and pain? As verse 11 say, “I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?” I am learning through hard times how to put my trust in God. Claiming His promises and seeing how God helped David, helps me. You can trust God’s Words. Praying for you.
Jarmila Van
Friend of God, mother, teacher, prayer warrior
