Psalms 56 -- Old Testament -- Gospel Daily

Psalms

Chapter 56

Mercy in Trust, Tears in God's Bottle

The psalmist begs God for mercy as enemies constantly oppress and fight against him daily. When afraid, he trusts in God. Though enemies wrest his words and hide waiting for his soul, he will not fear what flesh can do. The psalmist acknowledges that God records his wanderings and collects his tears in a bottle, keeping count of them in His book. When the psalmist cries to God, his enemies turn back, for God is for him. The psalmist vows to render praises to God, believing that God has delivered his soul from death and will deliver his feet from falling.

Trust in God during fearGod's care for the afflictedGod's record of sufferingDeliverance from death

¹Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me.

²Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High.

³What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

⁴In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

⁵Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.

⁶They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.

⁷Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God.

⁸Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?

⁹When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.

¹⁰In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word.

¹¹In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.

¹²Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee.

¹³For 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?