For the Chief Musician; set to Jonath elem rehokim. A Psalm of David: Michtam: when the Philistines took him in Gath.

1 Be merciful unto me, O God; for man would swallow me up: all the day long he fighting oppresseth me.

2 Mine enemies would swallow me up all the day long: for they be many that fight proudly against me.

3 What time I am afraid, I will put my trust in thee.

4 In God I will praise his word: in God have I put my trust, I will not be afraid; what can flesh do unto me?

5 All the day long they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.

6 They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, even as they have waited for my soul.

7 Shall they escape by iniquity? in anger cast down the peoples, O God.

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

9 Then shall mine enemies turn back in the day that I call: this I know, that 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 can man do unto me?

12 Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render thank offerings unto thee.

13 For thou hast delivered my soul from death: hast thou not delivered my feet from falling? that I may walk before God in the light of the living.