Be Merciful to Me, God
(1 Samuel 21:10-15; Psalm 34:1-22; Psalm 52:1-9)
1{To the chief Musician upon Jonathelemrechokim, Michtam of David, when the Philistines took him in Gath.} Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me.
2Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High.
3What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
4In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
5Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.
6They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.
7Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God.
8Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?
9When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.
10In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word.
11In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
12Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee.
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?
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
Be Merciful to Me, O God
(1 Samuel 21:8–15)
1 For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Silent Dove in Distant Lands.” A poem by David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath. Be merciful to me, God, for man wants to swallow me up. All day long, he attacks and oppresses me.
2 My enemies want to swallow me up all day long, for they are many who fight proudly against me.
3 When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.
4 In God, I praise his word. In God, I put my trust. I will not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?
5 All day long they twist my words. All their thoughts are against me for evil.
6 They conspire and lurk, watching my steps, they are eager to take my life.
7 Shall they escape by iniquity? In anger cast down the peoples, God.
8 You number my wanderings. You put my tears into your bottle. Aren’t they in your book?
9 Then my enemies shall turn back in the day that I call. I know this, that God is for me.
10 In God, I will praise his word. In Yahweh, I will praise his word.
11 I have put my trust in God. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
12 Your vows are on me, God. I will give thank offerings to you.
13 For you have delivered my soul from death, and prevented my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living.
Be Merciful to Me, O God
(1 Samuel 21:8–15)
For the choirmaster. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” A Miktam a of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath.
1Be merciful to me, O God,
for men are hounding me;
all day they press their attack.
2 My enemies pursue me all day long,
for many proudly assail me.
3 When I am afraid,
I put my trust in You.
4 In God, whose word I praise—
in God I trust.
I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?
5 All day long they twist my words;
all their thoughts are on my demise.
6 They conspire, they lurk,
they watch my steps
while they wait to take my life.
7 In spite of such sin, will they escape? b
In Your anger, O God, cast down the nations.
8 You have taken account of my wanderings. c
Put my tears in Your bottle—
are they not in Your book?
9 Then my enemies will retreat
on the day I cry for help.
By this I will know that God is on my side.
10 In God, whose word I praise,
in the LORD, whose word I praise,
11 in God I trust; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?
12 Your vows are upon me, O God;
I will render thank offerings to You.
13 For You have delivered my soul from death,
and my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before God
in the light of life.
Footnotes:
1 a Miktam is probably a musical or liturgical term; used for Psalms 16 and 56–60.
7 b Or do not let them escape ; MT does not include do not .
8 c Or sorrows
Be Merciful to Me, God
(1 Samuel 21:10-15; Psalm 34:1-22; Psalm 52:1-9)
1To the Overseer. -- 'On the Dumb Dove far off.' -- A secret treasure of David, in the Philistines' taking hold of him in Gath. Favour me, O God, for man swallowed me up, All the day fighting he oppresseth me,
2Mine enemies have swallowed up all the day, For many are fighting against me, O most High,
3The day I am afraid I am confident toward Thee.
4In God I praise His word, in God I have trusted, I fear not what flesh doth to me.
5All the day they wrest my words, Concerning me all their thoughts are for evil,
6They assemble, they hide, they watch my heels, When they have expected my soul.
7By iniquity they escape, In anger the peoples put down, O God.
8My wandering Thou hast counted, Thou -- place Thou my tear in Thy bottle, Are they not in Thy book?
9Then turn back do mine enemies in the day I call. This I have known, that God is for me.
10In God I praise the word, In Jehovah I praise the word.
11In God I trusted, I fear not what man doth to me,
12On me, O God, are Thy vows, I repay thank-offerings to Thee.
13For Thou hast delivered my soul from death, Dost Thou not my feet from falling? To walk habitually before God in the light of the living!
