Psalms 56
What Happens in This Chapter
David asks God for help while enemies chase him and twist his words. He says the same thing twice: he trusts God, so he will not be afraid of people. He believes God keeps count of his sad days and even saves his tears. At the end he thanks God for keeping him alive and safe.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me.
1Be kind to me, God. People keep chasing me. All day long they attack me.
The old wording says people want to "swallow me up." It means they are hunting him down, not eating him.
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 me. God, you are the highest of all.
3What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
3When I am afraid, I trust 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 what he says. I trust God. I will not be afraid. What can a person 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 is how to hurt me.
"Wrest my words" means they take what he says and change it to mean something bad.
6They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.
6They make plans together. They hide and watch every step I take. They are waiting to kill me.
7Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God.
7Should they get away with doing such wrong? God, be angry and bring these people down.
8Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?
8You keep track of every sad day I have. You save my tears like water in a bottle. You have them all written in your book.
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. I know this is true. God is on my side.
10In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word.
10I praise God for what he says. I praise the LORD for what he says.
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 person 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 say thank you.
"Thy vows are upon me" means the promises he made to God are still his to keep.
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 saved my life from death. You kept my feet from slipping. Now I can walk with God in the light of life.
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