For the Chief Musician; set to Jonath elem rehokim. A Psalm of David. Michtam: when the Philistines took him in Gath.

1 Be merciful unto me, O God; for man would swallow me up:

All the day long he fighting oppresseth me.

2 Mine enemies would swallow me up all the day long;

For they are many that fight proudly against me.

3 What time I am afraid,

I will put my trust in thee.

4 In God (I will praise his word),

In God have I put my trust, I will not be afraid;

What can flesh do unto me?

5 All the day long they wrest my words:

All their thoughts are against me for evil.

6 They gather themselves together, they hide themselves,

They mark my steps,

Even as they have waited for my soul.

7 Shall they escape by iniquity?

In anger cast down the peoples, O God.

8 Thou numberest my wanderings:

Put thou my tears into thy bottle;

Are they not in thy book?

9 Then shall mine enemies turn back in the day that I call:

This I know, that God is for me.

10 In God (I will praise his word),

In Jehovah (I will praise his word),

11 In God have I put my trust, I will not be afraid;

What can man do unto me?

12 Thy vows are upon me, O God:

I will render thank-offerings unto thee.

13 For thou hast delivered my soul from death:

Hast thou not delivered my feet from falling,

That I may walk before God

In the light of the living?

For the Chief Musician. To the tune of "Silent Dove in Distant Lands." A poem by David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath.

1 Be merciful to me, God, for man wants to swallow me up.

All day long, he attacks and oppresses me.

2 My enemies want to swallow me up all day long,

for they are many who fight proudly against me.

3 When I am afraid,

I will put my trust in you.

4 In God, I praise his word.

In God, I put my trust.

I will not be afraid.

What can flesh do to me?

5 All day long they twist my words.

All their thoughts are against me for evil.

6 They conspire and lurk,

watching my steps.

They are eager to take my life.

7 Shall they escape by iniquity?

In anger cast down the peoples, God.

8 You count my wanderings.

You put my tears into your container.

Aren’t they in your book?

9 Then my enemies shall turn back in the day that I call.

I know this: that God is for me.

10 In God, I will praise his word.

In Yahweh, I will praise his word.

11 I have put my trust in God.

I will not be afraid.

What can man do to me?

12 Your vows are on me, God.

I will give thank offerings to you.

13 For you have delivered my soul from death,

and prevented my feet from falling,

that I may walk before God in the light of the living.