Psalms 56:1

[To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave.] Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. Altaschith: or, Destroy not Michtam: or, A golden Psalm I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me. He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth. from the...: or, he reproacheth him that

[Michtam of David.] Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust. Michtam: or, A golden Psalm

When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. came...: Heb. approached against me

But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation. Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters. Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me. Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.

The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies. enemies: Heb. observers

Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.

All thine enemies have opened their mouth against thee: they hiss and gnash the teeth: they say, We have swallowed her up: certainly this is the day that we looked for; we have found, we have seen it.

Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them.

To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:

[To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David.] Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men? Altaschith...: or, Destroy not Michtam: or, A golden Psalm

Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up. Ah...: Heb. Ah, ah, our soul

And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands? And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath. And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard. scrabbled: or, made marks Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me? is mad: or, playeth the mad man Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?