For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Silent Dove in Distant Lands.” A poem by David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath.
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 count my wanderings.
You put my tears into your container.
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 YHVH, 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.