The Holy See
           back          up     Help

New American Bible

2002 11 11
IntraText - Text
Previous - Next

Click here to hide the links to concordance

Chapter 56

1

1 2 For the director. According to Yonath elem rehoqim. A miktam of David, when the Philistines seized him at Gath.

2

Have mercy on me, God, for I am treated harshly; attackers press me all the day.

3

My foes treat me harshly all the day; yes, many are my attackers. O Most High,

4

when I am afraid, in you I place my trust.

5

God, I praise your promise; in you I trust, I do not fear. What can mere flesh do to me?

6

All the day they foil my plans; their every thought is of evil against me.

7

They hide together in ambush; they watch my every step; they lie in wait for my life.

8

They are evil; watch them, God! Cast the nations down in your anger!

9

3 My wanderings you have noted; are my tears not stored in your vial, recorded in your book?

10

My foes turn back when I call on you. This I know: God is on my side.

11

God, I praise your promise;

12

in you I trust, I do not fear. What can mere mortals do to me?

13

I have made vows to you, God; with offerings I will fulfill them,

14

Once you have snatched me from death, kept my feet from stumbling, That I may walk before God in the light of the living.

 

 




1 [Psalm 56] Beset physically ( Psalm 56:2-3) and psychologically ( Psalm 56:6-7), the psalmist maintains a firm confidence in God ( Psalm 56:5, 9-10). Nothing will prevent the psalmist from keeping the vow to give thanks for God's gift of life ( Psalm 56:13). A refrain ( Psalm 56:5, 11-12) divides the psalm in two equal parts.



2 [1] Yonath elem rehoqim: Hebrew words probably designating the melody to which the psalm was to be sung.



3 [9] Are my tears not stored in your vial: a unique saying in the Old Testament. The context suggests that the tears are saved because they are precious; God puts a high value on each of the psalmist's troubles.






Previous - Next

Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana