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Psalm 56
New International Version

### Psalm 56[a]

#### For the director of music. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” Of David. A miktam.[b] When the Philistines had seized him in Gath.

1 Be merciful to me,(A) my God,
for my enemies are in hot pursuit;(B)
all day long they press their attack.(C)
2 My adversaries pursue me all day long;(D)
in their pride many are attacking me.(E)

3 When I am afraid,(F) I put my trust in you.(G)
4 In God, whose word I praise—(H)
in God I trust and am not afraid.(I)
What can mere mortals do to me?(J)

5 All day long they twist my words;(K)
all their schemes are for my ruin.
6 They conspire,(L) they lurk,
they watch my steps,(M)
hoping to take my life.(N)
7 Because of their wickedness do not[c] let them escape;(O)
in your anger, God, bring the nations down.(P)

8 Record my misery;
list my tears on your scroll[d](Q)—
are they not in your record?(R)
9 Then my enemies will turn back(S)
when I call for help.(T)
By this I will know that God is for me.(U)

10 In God, whose word I praise,
in the Lord, whose word I praise—
11 in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can man do to me?

12 I am under vows(V) to you, my God;
I will present my thank offerings to you.
13 For you have delivered me from death(W)
and my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before God
in the light of life.(X)

#### Footnotes

1. Psalm 56:1 In Hebrew texts 56:1-13 is numbered 56:2-14.
2. Psalm 56:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
3. Psalm 56:7 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text does not have do not.
4. Psalm 56:8 Or misery; / put my tears in your wineskin

#### Cross references

1. Psalm 56:1 : Ps 6:2
2. Psalm 56:1 : Ps 57:1-3
3. Psalm 56:1 : Ps 17:9
4. Psalm 56:2 : Ps 35:25; 124:3
5. Psalm 56:2 : Ps 35:1
6. Psalm 56:3 : Ps 55:4-5
7. Psalm 56:3 : S Ps 55:23
8. Psalm 56:4 : ver 10
9. Psalm 56:4 : S Ps 27:1
10. Psalm 56:4 : Ps 118:6; Mt 10:28; Heb 13:6
11. Psalm 56:5 : Ps 41:7; 2Pe 3:16
12. Psalm 56:6 : Ps 59:3; 94:21; Mk 3:6
13. Psalm 56:6 : Ps 17:11
14. Psalm 56:6 : Ps 71:10
15. Psalm 56:7 : Pr 19:5; Eze 17:15; Ro 2:3; Heb 12:25
16. Psalm 56:7 : Ps 36:12; 55:23
17. Psalm 56:8 : S 2Ki 20:5
18. Psalm 56:8 : Isa 4:3; Da 7:10; 12:1; Mal 3:16
19. Psalm 56:9 : Ps 9:3
20. Psalm 56:9 : Ps 102:2
21. Psalm 56:9 : S Nu 14:8; S Dt 31:6; Ro 8:31
22. Psalm 56:12 : Ps 50:14
23. Psalm 56:13 : Ps 30:3; 33:19; 49:15; 86:13; 107:20; 116:8
24. Psalm 56:13 : S Job 33:30

New International Version (NIV)

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