Psalms 56

Psalm 56

Trust in God under Persecution

1Be gracious to me, O God, for people trample on me;

all day long foes oppress me;

2my enemies trample on me all day long,[#Ps 35.1; 57.3]

for many fight against me.

O Most High,

3when I am afraid,[#Ps 11.1; 55.4, 5]

I put my trust in you.

4In God, whose word I praise,[#Ps 118.6; Heb 13.6]

in God I trust; I am not afraid;

what can flesh do to me?

5All day long they seek to injure my cause;[#Ps 41.7]

all their thoughts are against me for evil.

6They stir up strife; they lurk;[#Ps 19.10, 11; 59.3; 140.2]

they watch my steps,

as they hoped to take my life.

7Do not deliver them for any reason;[#Ps 36.12; 55.23; #56.7 Gk Compare Syr Jerome: Heb deliver them because of their iniquity]

in wrath cast down the peoples, O God!

8You have kept count of my tossings;[#Ps 139.3]

put my tears in your bottle.

Are they not in your record?

9Then my enemies will retreat[#Ps 9.3; 102.2; Rom 8.31]

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 am not afraid.

What can a mere mortal do to me?

12My vows to you I must perform, O God;[#Ps 50.14]

I will render thank offerings to you.

13For you have delivered my soul from death[#Job 33.30; Ps 116.8]

and my feet from falling,

so that I may walk before God

in the light of life.

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Published by: National Council of the Churches of Christ