1: (For the Chief Musician. To the tune of "Silent Dove in Distant Lands". A poem by David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath.) Be merciful to me, God, for man wants to swallow me up. All day long, he attacks and oppresses me. 2: My enemies want to swallow me up all day long, For they are many who fight proudly against me. 3: When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. 4: In God, I praise his word. In God, I put my trust. I will not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? 5: All day long they twist my words. All their thoughts are against me for evil. 6: They conspire and lurk, Watching my steps, they are eager to take my life. 7: Shall they escape by iniquity? In anger cast down the peoples, God. 8: You number my wanderings. You put my tears into your bottle. Aren't they in your book? 9: Then shall my enemies turn back in the day that I call. I know this, that God is for me. 10: In God, I will praise his word. In Yahweh, I will praise his word. 11: I have put my trust in God. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? 12: Your vows are on me, God. I will give thank offerings to you. 13: For you have delivered my soul from death, And prevented my feet from falling, That I may walk before God in the light of the living.
