Psalm 56-57 | birchwood-church

Psalm 56

1 O my God, show mercy to me;

men would take my life away.

Hostile forces press upon me;

they pursue me all the day.

2 Slanderers are close behind me;

they pursue me all day long.

In their arrogance they hound me;

they are numerous and strong.

3 When I am afraid, I’ll trust you.
4 I will praise your faithful word;

I will trust and not be fearful.

What can man do to me, Lord?

5 All day long they plot to harm me, twisting everything I say.

6 They conspire, they lurk, they trail me

keen to take my life away.

7 Let them not escape your anger;

bring the nations down, O Lord.

8 In your book write my entreaties;

in your scroll my tears record.

9 When I call on you to help me,

then my foes will turn aside;

This is how I will be certain

that my God is on my side.

10 In the LORD, whose word I honour, in my God—I praise his word—

11 I will trust and not be fearful.

What can man do to me, Lord?

12 I have taken vows before you;

to my God I will be true.

Sacrifices of thanksgiving

I will gladly give to you.

13 For you kept my feet from stumbling, and from death you set me free,

So that I may walk before you

and the light of life may see.

Lyrics from 'Sing Psalms'. Copyright Free Church of Scotland.

Psalm 57

1 Have mercy on me, Lord;

to you my soul holds fast.

Your cov'ring wings will shelter me

until the danger's past.

2 I cry to God Most High,

to God who answers me,

For he fulfils his purposes

for me most perfectly.

3 He send his help from heaven

and saves me from above,

Rebuking those who seek my life;

God sends his truth and love.

4 I live with savage beasts,

I dwell with lions strong -

with men who speak with piercing words;

a sharp sword is their tongue.

5 Above the highest heavens,

O God exalted be!

And over all the earth below

display your majesty.

6 My soul was overwhelmed;

they spread a net for me.

But they themselves fell in the pit

which they dug secretly.

7 My heart is steadfast, Lord;

with music I will sing.

8 Awake, my soul! Wake, harp and lyre!

my song the dawn will bring.

9 Among the nations, Lord,

to you I will give praise.

Among the peoples of the earth

my songs of you I'll raise.

10 Great is your steadfast love,

which reaches to the sky.

Your constant faithfulness, O Lord,

extends to heaven high.

11 Above the highest heavens,