Psalms

Psalm 56:1–3

1For the choirmaster. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” A Miktama of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath.

Be 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.

Footnotes

  • a 56:1 Miktam is probably a musical or liturgical term; used for Psalms 16 and 56–60.

Read all of Psalm 56

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Psalm 56:1

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
For the choirmasterלַמְנַצֵּ֤חַ׀lam·naṣ·ṣê·aḥPreposition-l, Article; Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singularH5329 be pre-eminent, enduring
To the tune ofעַל־‘al-PrepositionH5921 height
A Doveי֬וֹנַתyō·w·naṯNoun - feminine singular constructH3128 dove of, silence, of
on Distantרְ֭חֹקִיםrə·ḥō·qîmAdjective - masculine pluralH3128 dove of, silence, of
Oaksאֵ֣לֶם’ê·lemAdjective - masculine singularH3128 dove of, silence, of
A Miktamמִכְתָּ֑םmiḵ·tāmNoun - masculine singularH4387 Mikhtam
of Davidלְדָוִ֣דlə·ḏā·wiḏPreposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
when the Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּ֣יםp̄ə·liš·tîmNoun - proper - masculine pluralH6430 Philistine
seizedבֶּֽאֱחֹ֨זbe·’ĕ·ḥōzPreposition-b; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH270 grasp, take hold, take possession
himאֹת֖וֹ’ō·ṯōwDirect object marker; third person masculine singularH853 mark of the accusative
in Gathבְּגַֽת׃bə·ḡaṯPreposition-b; Noun - proper - feminine singularH1661 wine-press
Be merciful to meחָנֵּ֣נִיḥān·nê·nîVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular; first person common singularH2603 shew favour, be gracious
O Godאֱ֭לֹהִים’ĕ·lō·hîmNoun - masculine pluralH430 God
forכִּֽי־kî-ConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
menאֱנ֑וֹשׁ’ĕ·nō·wōšNoun - masculine singularH582 man, mankind
are hounding meשְׁאָפַ֣נִיšə·’ā·p̄a·nîVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular; first person common singularH7602 gasp, pant, pant after, long for
allכָּל־kāl-Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
dayהַ֝יּ֗וֹםhay·yō·wmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH3117 day
they pressיִלְחָצֵֽנִי׃yil·ḥā·ṣê·nîVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular; first person common singularH3905 squeeze, press
their attackלֹחֵ֥םlō·ḥêmVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH3898 fight, do battle

Psalm 56:2

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
My enemiesשׁ֭וֹרְרַיšô·rə·raiNoun - masculine plural construct; first person common singularH8324 watcher
pursue meשָׁאֲפ֣וּšā·’ă·p̄ūVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralH7602 gasp, pant, pant after, long for
allכָּל־kāl-Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
dayהַיּ֑וֹםhay·yō·wmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH3117 day
forכִּֽי־kî-ConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
manyרַבִּ֨יםrab·bîmAdjective - masculine pluralH7227 much, many, great
proudlyמָרֽוֹם׃mā·rō·wmNoun - masculine singularH4791 height
assailלֹחֲמִ֖יםlō·ḥă·mîmVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralH3898 fight, do battle
meלִ֣יlîPreposition; first person common singular

Psalm 56:3

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Whenי֥וֹםyō·wmNoun - masculine singularH3117 day
I am afraidאִירָ֑א’î·rāVerb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularH3372 fear
Iאֲ֝נִ֗י’ă·nîPronoun - first person common singularH589 I
put my trustאֶבְטָֽח׃’eḇ·ṭāḥVerb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularH982 trust
in Youאֵלֶ֥יךָ’ê·le·ḵāPreposition; second person masculine singularH413 motion to

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Psalm 56:1 1 Samuel 29:4 · Psalm 16:1 · Psalm 69:13–16 · Psalm 59:1 · Psalm 31:9 · Psalm 143:12 · 1 Corinthians 15:54 · 1 Samuel 21:11–15 · Psalm 27:2 · Psalm 60:1 · Lamentations 2:5 · Psalm 35:25

Psalm 56:2 Psalm 118:10–12 · Psalm 57:3 · Psalm 3:1 · Psalm 54:5 · Psalm 92:8 · Psalm 93:4 · Acts 4:25–27 · Psalm 92:1 · Revelation 16:14 · Micah 6:6 · Isaiah 57:15 · Psalm 91:1

Psalm 56:3 Psalm 34:4 · 1 Samuel 30:6 · 2 Corinthians 7:5–6 · Psalm 55:4–5 · Psalm 11:1 · 2 Corinthians 1:8–10 · 1 Samuel 21:12 · 2 Chronicles 20:3 · 1 Samuel 21:10

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.