For the music director; according to the yonath-elem-rechovim style; 2 a prayer 3 of David, written when the Philistines captured him in Gath. 4
56:1 Have mercy on me, O God, for men are attacking me! 5
All day long hostile enemies 6 are tormenting me. 7
69:13 O Lord, may you hear my prayer and be favorably disposed to me! 8
O God, because of your great loyal love,
answer me with your faithful deliverance! 9
69:14 Rescue me from the mud! Don’t let me sink!
Deliver me 10 from those who hate me,
from the deep water!
69:15 Don’t let the current overpower me!
Don’t let the deep swallow me up!
Don’t let the pit 11 devour me! 12
69:16 Answer me, O Lord, for your loyal love is good! 13
Because of your great compassion, turn toward me!
119:76 May your loyal love console me,
as you promised your servant. 14
119:77 May I experience your compassion, 15 so I might live!
For I find delight in your law.
1 sn Psalm 56. Despite the threats of his enemies, the psalmist is confident the Lord will keep his promise to protect and deliver him.
2 tn The literal meaning of this phrase is “silent dove, distant ones.” Perhaps it refers to a particular style of music, a tune title, or a type of musical instrument.
3 tn The precise meaning of the Hebrew word מִכְתָּם (miktam), which also appears in the heading to Pss 16 and 57-60 is uncertain. HALOT 582-83 s.v. defines it as “inscription.”
4 sn According to the superscription, David wrote this psalm when the Philistines seized him and took him to King Achish of Gath (see 1 Sam 21:11-15).
5 tn According to BDB 983 s.v. II שָׁאַף, the verb is derived from שָׁאַף (sha’af, “to trample, crush”) rather than the homonymic verb “pant after.”
6 tn Heb “a fighter.” The singular is collective for his enemies (see vv. 5-6). The Qal of לָחַם (lakham, “fight”) also occurs in Ps 35:1.
7 tn The imperfect verbal form draws attention to the continuing nature of the enemies’ attacks.
8 tn Heb “as for me, [may] my prayer be to you, O
9 tn Heb “O God, in the abundance of your loyal love, answer me in the faithfulness of your deliverance.”
10 tn Heb “let me be delivered.”
11 tn Heb “well,” which here symbolizes the place of the dead (cf. Ps 55:23).
12 tn Heb “do not let the well close its mouth upon me.”
13 tn Or “pleasant”; or “desirable.”
14 tn Heb “according to your word to your servant.”
15 tn Heb “and may your compassion come to me.”