Psalm 56

¹O God, have mercy on me,
    for people are hounding me.
    My foes attack me all day long.
²I am constantly hounded by those who slander me,
    and many are boldly attacking me.
³But when I am afraid,
    I will put my trust in you.
⁴I praise God for what he has promised.
    I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
    What can mere mortals do to me?

⁵They are always twisting what I say;
    they spend their days plotting to harm me.
⁶They come together to spy on me—
    watching my every step, eager to kill me.
⁷Don’t let them get away with their wickedness;
    in your anger, O God, bring them down.

⁸You keep track of all my sorrows.^[b]
    You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
    You have recorded each one in your book.

⁹My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help.
    This I know: God is on my side!
¹⁰I praise God for what he has promised;
    yes, I praise the Lord for what he has promised.
¹¹I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
    What can mere mortals do to me?

¹²I will fulfill my vows to you, O God,
    and will offer a sacrifice of thanks for your help.
¹³For you have rescued me from death;
    you have kept my feet from slipping.
So now I can walk in your presence, O God,
    in your life-giving light.