Chapter 56

Be Merciful to Me, O God

1 Samuel 21:8–15

For the choirmaster. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” A Miktam^a of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath.

¹Be merciful to me, O God,

for men are hounding me;

all day they press their attack.

²My enemies pursue me all day long,

for many proudly assail me.

³When I am afraid,

I put my trust in You.

⁴In God, whose word I praise—

in God I trust.

I will not be afraid.

What can man do to me?

⁵All day long they twist my words;

all their thoughts are on my demise.

⁶They conspire, they lurk,

they watch my steps

while they wait to take my life.

⁷In spite of such sin, will they escape?^b

In Your anger, O God, cast down the nations.

⁸You have taken account of my wanderings.^c

Put my tears in Your bottle—

are they not in Your book?

⁹Then my enemies will retreat

on the day I cry for help.

By this I will know that God is on my side.

¹⁰In God, whose word I praise,

in the LORD, whose word I praise,

¹¹in God I trust; I will not be afraid.

What can man do to me?

¹²Your vows are upon me, O God;

I will render thank offerings to You.

¹³For You have delivered my soul from death,

and my feet from stumbling,

that I may walk before God

in the light of life.