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Psalms 56

BSB·13 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1Be merciful to meחָנֵּ֣נִיḥān·nê·nî — To show favor, mercy, or compassion; to be graciousH2603 — Full Word Study →, O Godאֱ֭לֹהִים’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →, forכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → menאֱנ֑וֹשׁ’ĕ·nō·wōš — human being, man, mortal personH582 — Full Word Study → are hounding meשְׁאָפַ֣נִיšə·’ā·p̄a·nî — to pant eagerly; to desire intensely; to devourH7602 — Full Word Study →; allכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → dayהַ֝יּ֗וֹםhay·yō·wm — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study → they pressיִלְחָצֵֽנִי׃yil·ḥā·ṣê·nî — to press, oppress, or crush with forceH3905 — Full Word Study → their attackלֹחֵ֥םlō·ḥêm — to fight; to consume; to battleH3898 — Full Word Study →. 2My enemiesשׁ֭וֹרְרַיšô·rə·rai — enemy, adversary, foeH8324 — Full Word Study → pursue meשָׁאֲפ֣וּšā·’ă·p̄ū — to pant eagerly; to desire intensely; to devourH7602 — Full Word Study → allכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → day long, forכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → manyרַבִּ֨יםrab·bîm — great, many, abundant, mightyH7227 — Full Word Study → proudlyמָרֽוֹם׃mā·rō·wm — Height, high place, or exaltationH4791 — Full Word Study → assailלֹחֲמִ֖יםlō·ḥă·mîm — to fight; to consume; to battleH3898 — Full Word Study → me. 3Whenי֥וֹםyō·wm — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study → I am afraidאִירָ֑א’î·rā — to fear, revere, or be afraidH3372 — Full Word Study →, Iאֲ֝נִ֗י’ă·nî — I, me, myself (first person singular pronoun)H589 — Full Word Study → put my trustאֶבְטָֽח׃’eḇ·ṭāḥ — to trust, rely on, have confidenceH982 — Full Word Study → in Youאֵלֶ֥יךָ’ê·le·ḵā — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study →. 4In Godבֵּאלֹהִים֮bê·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →, whose wordדְּבָ֫ר֥וֹdə·ḇā·rōw — word, matter, thing, affairH1697 — Full Word Study → I praiseאֲהַלֵּ֪ל’ă·hal·lêl — To praise, boast, or shine; to celebrate or make a displayH1984 — Full Word Study →in Godבֵּאלֹהִ֣יםbê·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → I trustבָּ֭טַחְתִּיbā·ṭaḥ·tî — to trust, rely on, have confidenceH982 — Full Word Study →. I will notלֹ֣אlō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → be afraidאִירָ֑א’î·rā — to fear, revere, or be afraidH3372 — Full Word Study →. Whatמַה־mah- — What? Why? How? (interrogative particle)H4100 — Full Word Study → can manבָשָׂ֣רḇā·śār — Flesh; body; meat; human natureH1320 — Full Word Study → doיַּעֲשֶׂ֖הya·‘ă·śeh — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study → to me? 5All day longכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → they twistיְעַצֵּ֑בוּyə·‘aṣ·ṣê·ḇū — to grieve, pain, or vex; to be displeasedH6087 — Full Word Study → my wordsדְּבָרַ֣יdə·ḇā·ray — word, matter, thing, affairH1697 — Full Word Study →; allכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → their thoughtsמַחְשְׁבֹתָ֣םmaḥ·šə·ḇō·ṯām — plan, purpose, or scheme (often with moral implications)H4284 — Full Word Study → are on my demiseלָרָֽע׃lā·rā‘ — evil, bad, harm, disasterH7451 — Full Word Study →. 6They conspireיָג֤וּרוּ׀yā·ḡū·rū — to sojourn, dwell as a stranger, fearH1481 — Full Word Study →, they lurkיַצְפִּינוּyaṣ·pī·nū — to hide, conceal, treasure up, or keep secretH6845 — Full Word Study →, theyהֵ֭מָּהhêm·māh — They, them (masculine plural pronoun)H1992 — Full Word Study → watchיִשְׁמֹ֑רוּyiš·mō·rū — To guard, keep, observe, preserveH8104 — Full Word Study → my stepsעֲקֵבַ֣י‘ă·qê·ḇay — Heel; footstep; rear part; deceptionH6119 — Full Word Study → whileכַּ֝אֲשֶׁ֗רka·’ă·šer — who, which, that; when, where, becauseH834 — Full Word Study → they waitקִוּ֥וּqiw·wū — To wait for; to expect with hopeH6960 — Full Word Study → to take my lifeנַפְשִֽׁי׃nap̄·šî — soul, life, person, selfH5315 — Full Word Study →. 7In spite ofעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → such sinאָ֥וֶן’ā·wen — Evil, wickedness, iniquity, or worthlessnessH205 — Full Word Study →, will they escape? In Your angerבְּ֝אַ֗ףbə·’ap̄ — Anger, wrath, face, or noseH639 — Full Word Study →, O Godאֱלֹהִֽים׃’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →, cast downהוֹרֵ֬דhō·w·rêḏ — To descend, go down, come downH3381 — Full Word Study → the nationsעַמִּ֤ים׀‘am·mîm — a people; nation; communityH5971 — Full Word Study →. 8Youאָ֥תָּה’āt·tāh — You; second-person pronoun (singular or plural)H859 — Full Word Study → have taken accountסָפַ֪רְתָּ֫הsā·p̄ar·tāh — To count, record, or declareH5608 — Full Word Study → of my wanderingsנֹדִי֮nō·ḏî — Wandering, restless movement, fugitive stateH5112 — Full Word Study →. Putשִׂ֣ימָהśî·māh — to put, place, set, appointH7760 — Full Word Study → my tearsדִמְעָתִ֣יḏim·‘ā·ṯî — tears, weepingH1832 — Full Word Study → in Your bottleבְנֹאדֶ֑ךָḇə·nō·ḏe·ḵā — Wineskin, leather bottleH4997 — Full Word Study →— are they not in Your bookבְּסִפְרָתֶֽךָ׃bə·sip̄·rā·ṯe·ḵā — A written document, scroll, or bookH5612 — Full Word Study →? 9Thenאָ֥֨ז’āz — Then; at that time; thereforeH227 — Full Word Study → my enemiesאוֹיְבַ֣י’ō·wy·ḇay — Enemy; adversary; one who opposesH341 — Full Word Study → will retreatיָ֘שׁ֤וּבוּyā·šū·ḇū — to turn back, return, restoreH7725 — Full Word Study → on the dayבְּי֣וֹםbə·yō·wm — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study → I cry for helpאֶקְרָ֑א’eq·rā — To call, summon, or proclaimH7121 — Full Word Study →. By thisזֶה־zeh- — this, that; the one, the otherH2088 — Full Word Study → I will knowיָ֝דַ֗עְתִּיyā·ḏa‘·tî — to know, understand, perceiveH3045 — Full Word Study → thatכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → God is on my side. 10In Godבֵּֽ֭אלֹהִיםbê·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →, whose wordדָּבָ֑רdā·ḇār — word, matter, thing, affairH1697 — Full Word Study → I praiseאֲהַלֵּ֣ל’ă·hal·lêl — To praise, boast, or shine; to celebrate or make a displayH1984 — Full Word Study →, in the LORDבַּ֝יהוָ֗הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, whose wordדָּבָֽר׃dā·ḇār — word, matter, thing, affairH1697 — Full Word Study → I praiseאֲהַלֵּ֥ל’ă·hal·lêl — To praise, boast, or shine; to celebrate or make a displayH1984 — Full Word Study →, 11in Godבֵּֽאלֹהִ֣יםbê·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → I trustבָּ֭טַחְתִּיbā·ṭaḥ·tî — to trust, rely on, have confidenceH982 — Full Word Study →; I will notלֹ֣אlō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → be afraidאִירָ֑א’î·rā — to fear, revere, or be afraidH3372 — Full Word Study →. Whatמַה־mah- — What? Why? How? (interrogative particle)H4100 — Full Word Study → can manאָדָ֣ם’ā·ḏām — Man, mankind, human beingH120 — Full Word Study → doיַּעֲשֶׂ֖הya·‘ă·śeh — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study → to me? 12Your vowsנְדָרֶ֑יךָnə·ḏā·re·ḵā — A solemn promise or vow made to GodH5088 — Full Word Study → are upon me, O Godאֱלֹהִ֣ים’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →; I will renderאֲשַׁלֵּ֖ם’ă·šal·lêm — to complete, make peace, repayH7999 — Full Word Study → thank offeringsתּוֹדֹ֣תtō·w·ḏōṯ — Thanksgiving; grateful praise and acknowledgment to GodH8426 — Full Word Study → to You. 13Forכִּ֤יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → You have deliveredהִצַּ֪לְתָּhiṣ·ṣal·tā — to rescue, deliver, or snatch awayH5337 — Full Word Study → my soulנַפְשִׁ֡יnap̄·šî — soul, life, person, selfH5315 — Full Word Study → from deathמִמָּוֶת֮mim·mā·weṯ — death, the state of being deadH4194 — Full Word Study →, and my feetרַגְלַ֗יraḡ·lay — Foot; by extension, journey, way, or standingH7272 — Full Word Study → from stumblingמִ֫דֶּ֥חִיmid·de·ḥî — falling, ruin, collapseH1762 — Full Word Study →, that I may walkלְ֭הִֽתְהַלֵּךְlə·hiṯ·hal·lêḵ — to go, walk, travel, proceedH1980 — Full Word Study → beforeלִפְנֵ֣יlip̄·nê — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study → Godאֱלֹהִ֑ים’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → in the lightבְּ֝א֗וֹרbə·’ō·wr — Light; brightness; illuminationH216 — Full Word Study → of lifeהַֽחַיִּֽים׃ha·ḥay·yîm — alive, living, lifeH2416 — Full Word Study →.
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Chapter Commentary — Psalms 56
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Chapter Overview

Psalm 56 is a cry for mercy in the midst of relentless persecution. Written when David was surrounded by enemies who threatened his life daily, this psalm moves from desperate plea to confident trust in God's faithfulness. The repeated refrain "I will trust in thee" (verses 3, 4, and the echo in verses 10-11) gives us the spiritual backbone of this passage: our confidence in God's character and power is the remedy for fear. This is a psalm for anyone facing overwhelming opposition, and it teaches us that acknowledging our fear is the first step toward genuine faith.

Verses 1-5: The Cry for Help Amid Daily Oppression

David opens with an urgent appeal: "Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up" (verse 1). The image of being "swallowed up" speaks to total destruction. His enemies are numerous and relentless, fighting against him daily with words and schemes. Notice that in verse 3, David doesn't deny his fear—he says, "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee." This is not the absence of fear, but the choice to trust despite fear. Verses 4 and 5 reveal the nature of the attack: his enemies twist his words (verse 5), creating a campaign of lies and slander designed to destroy his reputation and security.

Application: When facing slander or misrepresentation, we often feel helpless. David models for us that panic mixed with prayer is the honest response of faith. Like David, we can acknowledge our anxiety while directing it toward God's throne.

Verses 6-9: Trust in God's Awareness and Justice

In verses 6-7, David describes his enemies' tactics in detail—they stalk him, lay traps, and seek his life. Then he makes a daring appeal: "Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God." This isn't vindictive rage; it's a prayer that God's justice will ultimately prevail. But the heart of this section appears in verses 8-9. David expresses profound confidence that "Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?" God doesn't miss a single moment of suffering. He records every tear, counts every step of our wandering. This beautiful image tells us that God is not indifferent; He is intimately aware. Verse 9 clinches it: "When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me."

Application: God's omniscience (His all-knowing nature) is meant to comfort us. When you feel unseen and forgotten, remember that your heavenly Father records even your tears.

Verses 10-13: Vow and Confidence in Deliverance

The psalm closes with a renewed commitment. Verses 10-11 echo verses 3-4, reinforcing the refrain with slight variation. This repetition isn't poetic filler; it's the sound of a man settling his heart firmly on God's word. "In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me" (verse 11). Verses 12-13 move toward resolution: David acknowledges that "Thy vows are upon me, O God," meaning he is bound by his covenant relationship with God to render praise and obedience. His prayer concludes with confidence in future deliverance: "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?"

Application: Faith is not passive wishfulness; it leads to vows and commitment. When God delivers us from one crisis, it strengthens our resolve to serve Him faithfully in the future.

Application for Today

Whether you face workplace hostility, family opposition, or spiritual attack, Psalm 56 invites you to trade your fear for faith. God sees your suffering, He hears your cry, and He is for you. Like David, acknowledge your fear honestly, then deliberately turn your trust toward Christ, who conquered all earthly opposition through His resurrection.

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