¹God, please be gracious to me, for people are persecuting me; my attackers fight against me all day long.

²My enemies chase me down all the time—there are many of them, attacking me in their arrogance.[#56:2. The word used here means “height” and it is thought this refers to superiority or arrogance.]

³But when I'm afraid, I trust in you.

⁴I thank God for his promises. I trust in God, so why should I be fearful? What can mere human beings do to me?[#56:4. Literally, “flesh.”]

⁵They constantly twist my words against me; they spend all their time thinking of evil things to do to me.

⁶They gather together in their hiding places to keep watch on me, hoping to kill me.

⁷Will they escape when they do so much evil? God, in anger bring these people down!

⁸You've kept track of all my wanderings. You've collected all my tears in your bottle. You've kept a record of each one.[#56:8. To record the extent of the psalmist's sorrow.]

⁹Then those who hate me will run away when I call for your help. For I know this: God is for me!

¹⁰I thank God for his promises. I thank the Lord for his promises.

¹¹I trust in God, so why should I be fearful? What can mere human beings do to me?

¹²God, I will keep my promises to you. I will give thank offerings to you,

¹³for you have saved me from death and kept me from falling. Now I walk in the presence of God, in the light that gives life.