Psalms
Chapter 56
The writer is being hunted by enemies who chase him, twist his words, and watch for a chance to take his life. He asks God for mercy and then answers his own fear with a line he repeats twice: he trusts God, so no human being can truly frighten him. He says God keeps track of his sorrows, and he ends by promising thanks for being kept alive.
Plain reading written for preteens. Clear and complete, at about a fifth grade reading level.
Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me.
1Be kind to me, God. People are hunting me down. All day long they attack and press me hard.
2Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High.
2My enemies chase me all day long. Many of them fight against me out of pride, God Most High.
3What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
3When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
4In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
4I praise God for his promise. I trust God, so I will not be afraid. What can a mere human do to me?
5Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.
5All day long they twist my words. Everything they think about me is meant to do me harm.
6They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.
6They gather and make plans. They hide and watch every step I take, waiting to take my life.
7Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God.
7They have done wrong, so will they really get away with it? God, in your anger bring these nations down.
The KJV word "people" here means whole nations or groups of enemies, not people in general.
8Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?
8You keep count of every time I have had to wander. Save my tears in your bottle. Are they not written in your book?
"Tellest" in 1611 English meant counted or kept track of, not spoke about. A bottle then was a pouch made of animal skin, used to carry something worth saving.
9When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.
9When I call to you for help, my enemies will turn and run. This much I know: God is on my side.
10In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word.
10I praise God for his promise. I praise the LORD for his promise.
11In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
11I have put my trust in God. I will not be afraid. What can a mere human do to me?
12Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee.
12God, I made promises to you, and I will keep them. I will bring you gifts to thank you.
13For 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?
13You have saved my life from death. Will you not also keep my feet from slipping? Then I can walk with God in the light that living people enjoy.
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