Psalm 56
Trusting God When Afraid
For the choir director: A psalm*56: title Hebrew miktam. This may be a literary or musical term. of David, regarding the time the Philistines seized him in Gath. To be sung to the tune “Dove on Distant Oaks.”
1O God, have mercy on me,
for people are hounding me.
My foes attack me all day long.
2I am constantly hounded by those who slander me,
and many are boldly attacking me.
3But when I am afraid,
I will put my trust in you.
4I praise God for what he has promised.
I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
What can mere mortals do to me?
5They are always twisting what I say;
they spend their days plotting to harm me.
6They come together to spy on me—
watching my every step, eager to kill me.
7Don’t let them get away with their wickedness;
in your anger, O God, bring them down.
8You keep track of all my sorrows.*56:8 Or my wanderings.
You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book.
9My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help.
This I know: God is on my side!
10I praise God for what he has promised;
yes, I praise the Lord for what he has promised.
11I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
What can mere mortals do to me?
12I will fulfill my vows to you, O God,
and will offer a sacrifice of thanks for your help.
13For you have rescued me from death;
you have kept my feet from slipping.
So now I can walk in your presence, O God,
in your life-giving light.
Psalm 57
A Confident Prayer for Protection
For the choir director: A psalm*57: title Hebrew miktam. This may be a literary or musical term. of David, regarding the time he fled from Saul and went into the cave. To be sung to the tune “Do Not Destroy!”
1Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy!
I look to you for protection.
I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings
until the danger passes by.
2I cry out to God Most High,*57:2 Hebrew Elohim-Elyon.
to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.
3He will send help from heaven to rescue me,
disgracing those who hound me.
Interlude
My God will send forth his unfailing love and faithfulness.
4I am surrounded by fierce lions
who greedily devour human prey—
whose teeth pierce like spears and arrows,
and whose tongues cut like swords.
5Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens!
May your glory shine over all the earth.
6My enemies have set a trap for me.
I am weary from distress.
They have dug a deep pit in my path,
but they themselves have fallen into it.
Interlude
7My heart is confident in you, O God;
my heart is confident.
No wonder I can sing your praises!
8Wake up, my heart!
Wake up, O lyre and harp!
I will wake the dawn with my song.
9I will thank you, Lord, among all the people.
I will sing your praises among the nations.
10For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens.
Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
11Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens.
May your glory shine over all the earth.