To the chief Musician upon Jonath-elem-rechokim, Michtam of David, when the Philistines took him in Gath.

1 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?

1 To the chief music-maker; put to Jonath elem rehokim. Of David. Michtam. When the Philistines took him in Gath.

2 \56:1\Have mercy on me, O God, for man is attempting my destruction; every day he makes cruel attacks against me.

3 \56:2\My haters are ever ready to put an end to me; great numbers are lifting themselves up against me.

4 \56:3\In the time of my fear, I will have faith in you.

5 \56:4\In God will I give praise to his word; in God have I put my hope; I will have no fear of what flesh may do to me.

6 \56:5\Every day they make wrong use of my words; all their thoughts are against me for evil.

7 \56:6\They come together, they are waiting in secret places, they take note of my steps, they are waiting for my soul.

8 \56:7\By evil-doing they will not get free from punishment. In wrath, O God, let the peoples be made low.

9 \56:8\You have seen my wanderings; put the drops from my eyes into your bottle; are they not in your record?

10 \56:9\When I send up my cry to you, my haters will be turned back; I am certain of this, for God is with me.

11 \56:10\In God will I give praise to his word; in the Lord will I give praise to his word.

12 \56:11\In God have I put my hope, I will have no fear of what man may do to me.

13 \56:12\I keep the memory of my debt to you, O God; I will give you the offerings of praise.

14 \56:13\Because you have taken my soul from the power of death; and kept my feet from falling, so that I may be walking before God in the light of life.