NGET BIBLE

Psalms 56 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

Time Period

~1012 BC, when David fled Israel entirely to escape Saul

Location

Gath, one of the five main Philistine cities on the coastal plain west of Judah, enemy territory and the hometown of Goliath

Audience

Israelites in public worship, set to a known tune whose name is preserved in the heading

Situation

The heading places this when the Philistines seized David in Gath. He says his enemies twist his words and lie in wait, then repeats the refrain that he trusts God and will not fear what mere flesh can do to him.

Key Background

David had killed the Philistine champion Goliath of Gath, so taking refuge in that city meant putting himself inside the reach of the people with the strongest reason to kill him, and he escaped by pretending to be insane. The psalm asks God to put his tears in a bottle, a reference to small flasks used to store precious liquids, and to a heavenly record book, since ancient kings kept written registers of loyal subjects and of debts owed. Psalm headings often name the melody a song was sung to, the way a hymn text today is paired with a familiar tune.

1

me God, because people are me down. All day long they press their attack, trying to crush me.

2

My enemies hunt me down all day long so many are fighting against me from their

3

When fear closes in, I put my in you.

4

In God whose I in God I have put my trust. I will not be afraid. What can do to me?

5

All day long they my words; everything they scheme is aimed at destroying me.

6

They conspire together, they in the shadows, they my every step, waiting for the moment to take my life.

7

After all this evil, will they really escape? In your God, bring down these people.

8

You have kept count of all my nights. You have stored every tear in your bottle. Aren't they already recorded in your

9

The moment I call out to you, my enemies will retreat. This I know: is for me.

10

In God whose word I celebrate in whose word I celebrate

11

In God I have put my trust. I will not be afraid. What can do to me?

12

God, I am by the I to you. I will present my to you.

13

Because you have my life from death and kept my feet from stumbling, so that I can in presence in the of the

14This verse hasn't been translated yet — we've notified the team. Please check back in a day or two.
15This verse hasn't been translated yet — we've notified the team. Please check back in a day or two.
16This verse hasn't been translated yet — we've notified the team. Please check back in a day or two.
17This verse hasn't been translated yet — we've notified the team. Please check back in a day or two.
18This verse hasn't been translated yet — we've notified the team. Please check back in a day or two.
19This verse hasn't been translated yet — we've notified the team. Please check back in a day or two.
20This verse hasn't been translated yet — we've notified the team. Please check back in a day or two.
21This verse hasn't been translated yet — we've notified the team. Please check back in a day or two.
22This verse hasn't been translated yet — we've notified the team. Please check back in a day or two.
23This verse hasn't been translated yet — we've notified the team. Please check back in a day or two.
24This verse hasn't been translated yet — we've notified the team. Please check back in a day or two.
25This verse hasn't been translated yet — we've notified the team. Please check back in a day or two.
26This verse hasn't been translated yet — we've notified the team. Please check back in a day or two.
27This verse hasn't been translated yet — we've notified the team. Please check back in a day or two.
28This verse hasn't been translated yet — we've notified the team. Please check back in a day or two.
29This verse hasn't been translated yet — we've notified the team. Please check back in a day or two.
30This verse hasn't been translated yet — we've notified the team. Please check back in a day or two.
31This verse hasn't been translated yet — we've notified the team. Please check back in a day or two.
32This verse hasn't been translated yet — we've notified the team. Please check back in a day or two.
33This verse hasn't been translated yet — we've notified the team. Please check back in a day or two.
34This verse hasn't been translated yet — we've notified the team. Please check back in a day or two.
35This verse hasn't been translated yet — we've notified the team. Please check back in a day or two.
36This verse hasn't been translated yet — we've notified the team. Please check back in a day or two.
37This verse hasn't been translated yet — we've notified the team. Please check back in a day or two.
38This verse hasn't been translated yet — we've notified the team. Please check back in a day or two.
39This verse hasn't been translated yet — we've notified the team. Please check back in a day or two.
40This verse hasn't been translated yet — we've notified the team. Please check back in a day or two.
41This verse hasn't been translated yet — we've notified the team. Please check back in a day or two.
42This verse hasn't been translated yet — we've notified the team. Please check back in a day or two.
43This verse hasn't been translated yet — we've notified the team. Please check back in a day or two.
44This verse hasn't been translated yet — we've notified the team. Please check back in a day or two.
45This verse hasn't been translated yet — we've notified the team. Please check back in a day or two.
46This verse hasn't been translated yet — we've notified the team. Please check back in a day or two.
47This verse hasn't been translated yet — we've notified the team. Please check back in a day or two.
48This verse hasn't been translated yet — we've notified the team. Please check back in a day or two.
49This verse hasn't been translated yet — we've notified the team. Please check back in a day or two.
50This verse hasn't been translated yet — we've notified the team. Please check back in a day or two.