Psalm 56:5

Be Merciful to Me, O God · Psalm 56:1–13
Read Psalm 56

Translations

Modern
All day long they twist my words; all their thoughts are on my demise.
Traditional
Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.
Literal
All the day they wrest my words; their thoughts are all for evil against me.
Latin
Tota die verba mea execrabantur; adversum me omnes cogitationes eorum in malum.

Original

Hebrew
English
All day long they twist my words; all their thoughts are on my demise.

Notes

The psalmist specifies his charge against his attackers as he prays for their evil to end.

In this lament, the psalmist first asks for help and then expresses confidence in God. This pattern occurs two times (Psalm 56:1–4, 5–13).

These psalms of David share a common theme. They reflect on the experience of evil. In Psalm 51, the psalmist admits his wrongdoing and asks for God's forgiveness. Psalms 52–64 express sorrow over specific evils David faced. A song of praise (Psalm 65) brings David's laments to an end.

Theme notes and profiles

David Nehemiah’s Confidence in God

Parallels

1 Samuel 21:8–15

Glossary

David Jonath-Elem-Rechokim Michtam Miktam Music Psalms, Book of

Topics

Afflictions and Adversities: Prayer In Enemy: The Wickedness of David's Malice: General Scriptures Concerning Persecution of the Righteous