A Call for God’s Protection

For the choir director: according to “A Silent Dove Far Away.”a A Davidic •Miktam. When the Philistines seized him in Gath.b

1Be gracious to me, God, for man tramples me;

he fights and oppresses me all day long.

2My adversaries trample me all day,

for many arrogantly fight against me.c, d

3When I am afraid,

I will trust in You.e

4In God, whose word I praise,

in God I trust; I will not fear.

What can man do to me?f

5They twist my words all day long;

all their thoughts against me are evil.g

6They stir up strife,h they lurk;

they watch my steps

while they wait to take my life.i

7Will they escape in spite of such sin?

God, bring down the nations in wrath.j

8You Yourself have recorded my wanderings.k

Put my tears in Your bottle.

Are they not in Your records?l

9Then my enemies will retreat on the day when I call.m

This I know: God is for me.n

10In God, whose word I praise,

in the LORD, whose word I praise,

11in God I trust; I will not fear.

What can man do to me?o

12I am obligated by vowsp to You, God;

I will make my thank offerings to You.q

13For You delivered me from death,

even my feet from stumbling,

to walk before God in the light of life.r