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 Musician H5329 upon Jonathelemrechokim, H3128 Michtam H4387 of David, H1732 when the Philistines H6430 took H270 him in Gath.]] H1661 Be merciful H2603 unto me, O God: H430 for man H582 would swallow me up; H7602 he fighting H3898 daily H3117 oppresseth H3905 me.
2 Mine enemies H8324 would daily H3117 swallow H7602 me up: for they be many H7227 that fight H3898 against me, O thou most High. H4791
3 What time H3117 I am afraid, H3372 I will trust H982 in thee.
4 In God H430 I will praise H1984 his word, H1697 in God H430 I have put my trust; H982 I will not fear H3372 what flesh H1320 can do H6213 unto me.
5 Every day H3117 they wrest H6087 my words: H1697 all their thoughts H4284 are against me for evil. H7451
6 They gather themselves together, H1481 they hide H6845 H6845 themselves, they mark H8104 my steps, H6119 when they wait H6960 for my soul. H5315
7 Shall they escape H6405 by iniquity? H205 in thine anger H639 cast down H3381 the people, H5971 O God. H430
8 Thou tellest H5608 my wanderings: H5112 put H7760 thou my tears H1832 into thy bottle: H4997 are they not in thy book? H5612
9 When H3117 I cry H7121 unto thee, then shall mine enemies H341 turn H7725 back: H268 this I know; H3045 for God H430 is for me.
10 In God H430 will I praise H1984 his word: H1697 in the LORD H3068 will I praise H1984 his word. H1697
11 In God H430 have I put my trust: H982 I will not be afraid H3372 what man H120 can do H6213 unto me.
12 Thy vows H5088 are upon me, O God: H430 I will render H7999 praises H8426 unto thee.
13 For thou hast delivered H5337 my soul H5315 from death: H4194 wilt not thou deliver my feet H7272 from falling, H1762 that I may walk H1980 before H6440 God H430 in the light H216 of the living? H2416
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? Psalm 57 For the Chief Musician; `set to' Al-tash-heth. `A Psalm' of David. Michtam; when he fled from Saul, in the cave.
1 To the Overseer. -- `On the Dumb Dove far off.' -- A secret treasure of David, in the Philistines' taking hold of him in Gath. Favour me, O God, for man swallowed me up, All the day fighting he oppresseth me,
2 Mine enemies have swallowed up all the day, For many `are' fighting against me, O most High,
3 The day I am afraid I am confident toward Thee.
4 In God I praise His word, in God I have trusted, I fear not what flesh doth to me.
5 All the day they wrest my words, Concerning me all their thoughts `are' for evil,
6 They assemble, they hide, they watch my heels, When they have expected my soul.
7 By iniquity they escape, In anger the peoples put down, O God.
8 My wandering Thou hast counted, Thou -- place Thou my tear in Thy bottle, Are they not in Thy book?
9 Then turn back do mine enemies in the day I call. This I have known, that God `is' for me.
10 In God I praise the word, In Jehovah I praise the word.
11 In God I trusted, I fear not what man doth to me,
12 On me, O God, `are' Thy vows, I repay thank-offerings to Thee.
13 For Thou hast delivered my soul from death, Dost Thou not my feet from falling? To walk habitually before God in the light of the living!
1 {To the chief Musician. On Jonathelem-rechokim. Of David. Michtam; when the Philistines took him in Gath.} Be gracious unto me, O God; for man would swallow me up: all the day long fighting he oppresseth me.
2 Mine enemies would swallow [me] up all the day long; for they are many that fight against me haughtily.
3 In the day that I am afraid, I will confide in thee.
4 In God will I praise his word, in God I put my confidence: I will not fear; 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, because they wait for my soul.
7 Shall they escape by iniquity? In anger cast down the peoples, O God.
8 *Thou* countest my wanderings; put my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?
9 Then shall mine enemies return backward in the day when I call: this I know, for God is for me.
10 In God will I praise [his] word; in Jehovah will I praise [his] word.
11 In God have I put my confidence: I will not fear; what can man do unto me?
12 Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render thanks unto thee.
13 For thou hast delivered my soul from death; [wilt thou] not [keep] my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?
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 number my wanderings. You put my tears into your bottle. 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.
1 <To the chief music-maker; put to Jonath elem rehokim. Of David. Michtam. When the Philistines took him in Gath.> Have mercy on me, O God, for man is attempting my destruction; every day he makes cruel attacks against me.
2 My haters are ever ready to put an end to me; great numbers are lifting themselves up against me.
3 In the time of my fear, I will have faith in you.
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.
5 Every day they make wrong use of my words; all their thoughts are against me for evil.
6 They come together, they are waiting in secret places, they take note of my steps, they are waiting for my soul.
7 By evil-doing they will not get free from punishment. In wrath, O God, let the peoples be made low.
8 You have seen my wanderings; put the drops from my eyes into your bottle; are they not in your record?
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.
10 In God will I give praise to his word; in the Lord will I give praise to his word.
11 In God have I put my hope, I will have no fear of what man may do to me.
12 I keep the memory of my debt to you, O God; I will give you the offerings of praise.
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.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 56
Commentary on Psalms 56 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 56
Ps 56:1-13. Upon Jonath-elem-rechokim—literally, "upon the dove of silence" of distant places; either denoting a melody (see on Ps 9:1) of that name, to which this Psalm was to be performed; or it is an enigmatical form of denoting the subject, as given in the history referred to (1Sa 21:11, &c.), David being regarded as an uncomplaining, meek dove, driven from his native home to wander in exile. Beset by domestic and foreign foes, David appeals confidently to God, recites his complaints, and closes with joyful and assured anticipations of God's continued help.
1, 2. would swallow—literally, "pants as a raging beast" (Ac 9:1).
2. enemies—watchers (Ps 54:5).
most High—As it is not elsewhere used absolutely for God, some render the word here, arrogantly, or proudly, as qualifying "those who fight," &c.
3. in—or literally, "unto."
thee—to whom he turns in trouble.
4. in God … his word—By His grace or aid (Ps 60:12; 108:13), or, "I will boast in God as to His word"; in either case His word is the special matter and cause of praise.
flesh—for mankind (Ps 65:2; Isa 31:3), intimating frailty.
5, 6. A vivid picture of the conduct of malicious enemies.
7. Shall they escape? &c.—or better, "Their escape is by iniquity."
cast … people—humble those who so proudly oppose Thy servant.
8. God is mindful of his exile and remembers his tears. The custom of bottling the tears of mourners as a memorial, which has existed in some Eastern nations, may explain the figure.
9. God is for me—or, "on my side" (Ps 118:6; 124:1, 2); hence he is sure of the repulse of his foes.
12. I will render praises—will pay what I have vowed.
13. The question implies an affirmative answer, drawn from past experience.
falling—as from a precipice.
before God—in His favor during life.