Chapter 56

For the leader; ^a‐ Meaning of Heb. uncertain. on yonath elem reḥokim. ^‐a Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Of David. A michtam; when the Philistines seized him in Gath.

^{1 2}Have mercy on me, O God, for men persecute me; all day long my adversary oppresses me. ³My watchful foes persecute me all day long; many are my adversaries, O Exalted One. ⁴When I am afraid, I trust in You, ⁵in God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I am not afraid; what can mortals ^c Lit. “flesh.” do to me? ⁶All day long ^a‐ Meaning of Heb. uncertain. they cause me grief in my affairs, ^‐a Meaning of Heb. uncertain. they plan only evil against me. ⁷They plot, they lie in ambush; they watch my every move, hoping for my death. ⁸Cast them out for their evil; subdue peoples in Your anger, O God. ^{9 a‐} Cf. Mishnaic Heb. kefifah, a wicker basket used in fishing. You keep count of my wanderings; put my tears into Your flask, into Your record. ^‐a Cf. Mishnaic Heb. kefifah, a wicker basket used in fishing. ¹⁰Then my enemies will retreat when I call on You; this I know, that God is for me. ¹¹In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise, ¹²in God I trust; I am not afraid; what can man do to me? ¹³I must pay my vows to You, O God; I will render thank offerings to You. ¹⁴For You have saved me from death, my foot from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.