Be Merciful to Me, O God
For the choirmaster. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” A Miktam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath.
1Be merciful to me, O God,for men are hounding me;all day they press their attack. 2My enemies pursue me all day long,for many proudly assail me. 3When I am afraid,I put my trust in You. 4In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust.I will not be afraid.What can man do to me? 5All day long they twist my words;all their thoughts are on my demise. 6They conspire, they lurk,they watch my stepswhile they wait to take my life. 7In spite of such sin, will they escape?In Your anger, O God, cast down the nations. 8You have taken account of my wanderings.Put my tears in Your bottle—are they not in Your book? 9Then my enemies will retreaton the day I cry for help.By this I will know that God is on my side. 10In God, whose word I praise,in the LORD, whose word I praise, 11in God I trust; I will not be afraid.What can man do to me? 12Your vows are upon me, O God;I will render thank offerings to You. 13For You have delivered my soul from death,and my feet from stumbling,that I may walk before Godin the light of life.