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Psalms Chapter 56 (ASV)

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Psalm 56: What Time I Am Afraid, I Will Trust
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1 Be merciful unto me, O God; for man would swallow me up: All the day long he fighting oppresseth me.

2 Mine enemies would swallow me up all the day long; For they are many that fight proudly against me.

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

4 In God (I will praise his word), In God have I put my trust, I will not be afraid; What can flesh do unto me?

5 All the day long they wrest my words: All their thoughts are against me for evil.

6 They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, They mark my steps, Even as they have waited for my soul.

7 Shall they escape by iniquity? In anger cast down the peoples, O God.

8 Thou numberest my wanderings: Put thou my tears into thy bottle; Are they not in thy book?

9 Then shall mine enemies turn back in the day that I call: This I know, that God is for me.

10 In God (I will praise `his' word), In Jehovah (I will praise `his' word),

11 In God have I put my trust, I will not be afraid; What can man do unto me?

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

13 For thou hast delivered my soul from death: `Hast thou' not `delivered' my feet from falling, That I may walk before God In the light of the living? Psalm 57 For the Chief Musician; `set to' Al-tash-heth. `A Psalm' of David. Michtam; when he fled from Saul, in the cave.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Psalm 56 about?
Psalm 56 is a prayer for mercy while surrounded by enemies who 'wrest my words' and plot against him (vv.5-6), resolving repeatedly that 'What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee' (v.3).
What does verse 8 mean by God putting tears 'into thy bottle'?
It pictures God as personally attentive to suffering -- 'Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?' -- treating grief as something God records and remembers.
What does the psalm repeat as its central resolve?
The line 'in God have I put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me' appears twice (vv.4,11), similar in tone to the deliverance from fear recalled in Psalms 34:4. See Psalms 56:3.

Today's Verse

And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river.

Exodus 7:24 | ASV

Verse Of The Day

The psalmist finds comfort that God tells his wanderings and keeps his tears 'in thy bottle,' repeating twice, 'I will not be afraid what man can do unto me,' a line close to Psalms 34:4. The refuge theme continues into Psalms 57.