1 For the director, according to 'The Silent Dove of Distant Places.' A Miktam of David, when the Philistines captured him in Gath.

Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me.

2 Be gracious to me, O God, for mankind pursues me; all day long an attacker oppresses me!

Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High.

3 My enemies pursue me all day long; many are attacking me proudly.

What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

4 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

5 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?

Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.

6 All day long they twist my words; all their plans are against me for evil.

They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.

7 They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps, as they wait to take my life.

Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God.

8 In your anger, O God, cast them down. Hold them accountable for their wickedness.

Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?

9 You have kept track of my wanderings; put my tears in your bottle; are they not recorded in your book?

When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.

10 Then my enemies will turn back when I call upon you. This I know: God is for me.

In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word.

11 In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise,

In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.

12 In God I have trusted; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee.

13 I am bound by my vows to you, O God; I will present thank offerings to you.

For 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?

14 For you have delivered my soul from death, and my feet from stumbling, so that I may walk before God in the light of life.