Christian prayer
Psalm 56
Psalm 56 from the Bible, in its original Hebrew and with its meaning.
- 13 verses
- About 1 minute to recite
- From the Bible
- 1
To the chief Musician upon Jonath-elem-rechokim, 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.
- 2
Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High.
- 3
What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
- 4
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
Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.
- 6
They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.
- 7
Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God.
- 8
Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?
- 9
When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.
- 10
In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word.
- 11
In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
- 12
Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee.
- 13
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?
The Hebrew original
1 לַמְנַצֵּ֤חַ ׀ עַל־י֬וֹנַת אֵ֣לֶם רְ֭חֹקִים לְדָוִ֣ד מִכְתָּ֑ם בֶּֽאֱחֹ֨ז אֹת֖וֹ פְלִשְׁתִּ֣ים בְּגַֽת׃
2 חָנֵּ֣נִי אֱ֭לֹהִים כִּֽי־שְׁאָפַ֣נִי אֱנ֑וֹשׁ כָּל־הַ֝יּ֗וֹם לֹחֵ֥ם יִלְחָצֵֽנִי׃
3 שָׁאֲפ֣וּ שׁ֭וֹרְרַי כָּל־הַיּ֑וֹם כִּֽי־רַבִּ֨ים לֹחֲמִ֖ים לִ֣י מָרֽוֹם׃
4 י֥וֹם אִירָ֑א אֲ֝נִ֗י אֵלֶ֥יךָ אֶבְטָֽח׃
5 בֵּאלֹהִים֮ אֲהַלֵּ֪ל דְּבָ֫ר֥וֹ בֵּאלֹהִ֣ים בָּ֭טַחְתִּי לֹ֣א אִירָ֑א מַה־יַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה בָשָׂ֣ר לִֽי׃
6 כָּל־הַ֭יּוֹם דְּבָרַ֣י יְעַצֵּ֑בוּ עָלַ֖י כָּל־מַחְשְׁבֹתָ֣ם לָרָֽע׃
7 יָג֤וּרוּ ׀ יצפינו הֵ֭מָּה עֲקֵבַ֣י יִשְׁמֹ֑רוּ כַּ֝אֲשֶׁ֗ר קִוּ֥וּ נַפְשִֽׁי׃
8 עַל־אָ֥וֶן פַּלֶּט־לָ֑מוֹ בְּ֝אַ֗ף עַמִּ֤ים ׀ הוֹרֵ֬ד אֱלֹהִֽים׃
9 נֹדִי֮ סָפַ֪רְתָּ֫ה אָ֥תָּה שִׂ֣ימָה דִמְעָתִ֣י בְנֹאדֶ֑ךָ הֲ֝לֹ֗א בְּסִפְרָתֶֽךָ׃
10 אָ֥֨ז יָ֘שׁ֤וּבוּ אוֹיְבַ֣י אָ֭חוֹר בְּי֣וֹם אֶקְרָ֑א זֶה־יָ֝דַ֗עְתִּי כִּֽי־אֱלֹהִ֥ים לִֽי׃
11 בֵּֽ֭אלֹהִים אֲהַלֵּ֣ל דָּבָ֑ר בַּ֝יהוָ֗ה אֲהַלֵּ֥ל דָּבָֽר׃
12 בֵּֽאלֹהִ֣ים בָּ֭טַחְתִּי לֹ֣א אִירָ֑א מַה־יַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה אָדָ֣ם לִֽי׃
13 עָלַ֣י אֱלֹהִ֣ים נְדָרֶ֑יךָ אֲשַׁלֵּ֖ם תּוֹדֹ֣ת לָֽךְ׃
14 כִּ֤י הִצַּ֪לְתָּ נַפְשִׁ֡י מִמָּוֶת֮ הֲלֹ֥א רַגְלַ֗י מִ֫דֶּ֥חִי לְ֭הִֽתְהַלֵּךְ לִפְנֵ֣י אֱלֹהִ֑ים בְּ֝א֗וֹר הַֽחַיִּֽים׃
Wording: The Holy Bible, King James Version, 1611 (standard text of 1769). Copied word for word from the edition named here
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When it is prayed
Many Christians pray Psalm 56 when they feel afraid, threatened or misunderstood. It gives words for bringing distress before God and expressing trust even while fear remains. It can also be read during personal devotion or shared prayer.
Where it comes from
Psalm 56 comes from the Book of Psalms in the Bible and was originally composed in Hebrew. Its heading associates it with David and with his capture by the Philistines at Gath. The psalm moves between cries for help and declarations of trust in God.
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Related prayers and texts
- ChristianPsalm 91A biblical psalm of trust in God’s shelter and protection amid danger.
- ChristianPsalm 23A biblical psalm of trust in God, pictured as a caring shepherd and generous host.
- ChristianPsalm 121A biblical psalm of trust in God as the keeper of those who look to him for help.
- ChristianPsalm 35A biblical psalm asking God for protection, justice and deliverance from enemies.
Questions about Psalm 56
How many verses are in Psalm 56?
Psalm 56 has 13 verses.
What does Psalm 56 mean?
The psalm expresses fear under pressure from enemies while turning toward trust in God. It also speaks of God knowing the sufferer's tears and sorrow.
Who wrote Psalm 56?
Its heading attributes it to David, and it is traditionally read as a psalm of David.
When do Christians pray Psalm 56?
Many Christians pray it in times of fear, opposition or distress, or include it in their regular reading of the Psalms.
How long does Psalm 56 take to recite?
It takes about 1 minute to recite, depending on the pace and pauses.
