Psalms 56:1-13 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

Reader Related Verse
Bible Comments

LVI. A Prayer against Strong, Numerous, and Crafty Foes.

Psalms 56:2. For enemies read they that lie in wait for me (mg.), proudly: read bitterly.

Psalms 56:4. Will praise his word, i.e. the fulfilment of His promise. The fulfilment comes, of course, through God. The verse recurs in Psalms 56:10 f., which is probably its original place since it cannot be a refrain. It has been anticipated here by a mistake of the scribe.

Psalms 56:6 b, c, Psalms 56:7 a. Read, with slight change in text, As for them that watch for my footsteps, since they have hoped for my death, even so requite them according to their iniquity.

Psalms 56:7 b. For peoples read, by changing only one letter, strong or bold. Nations were not concerned in the petty espionage which the Ps. describes.

Psalms 56:8. tellest, i.e. countest (Genesis 15:5 *). Yahweh preserves the tears of the godly that He may remember and revenge them.

Related Commentaries of Psalms 56:1

Psalms 56:1-13

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

2 Mine enemiesa 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?