otcanon
Psalms 56
David prays from within a season of sustained threat — enemies who daily distort his words, track his movements, and conspire against his life. He addresses Jehovah twice as 'thou most High,' invoking El Elyon, which surfaces the Father-of-the-Father pattern within his cry. Against that backdrop David anchors twice on the same refrain: God's word is worthy of praise and his trust is placed there, not in the power of flesh. The image of Jehovah bottling his tears and recording his wanderings names covenantal witness — nothing of the servant's hidden season is lost or unaccounted. Deliverance from death is then the ground for asking deliverance from stumbling, so the walk before God in the land of the living may continue.
1
Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me.
2
Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High.
3
What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
4
In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
5
Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.
6
They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.
7
Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God.
8
Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?
9
When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.
10
In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word.
11
In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
12
Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee.
13
For 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?
