A psalm written by David for the choir director, concerning the time the Philistines seized David in Gath; to be sung using the tune ‘Dove on distant oaks’

1God, be merciful to me because men have harassed me; all day my enemies pursue me.

2My enemies harass me all day long; there are many of them who proudly attack me.

3But whenever I am afraid, I trust in you.

4God, I praise/thank you because you do what you have promised; I trust in you, and then I am not afraid.
Ordinary humans certainly cannot [RHQ] harm me!

5All day long my enemies claim that I said things that I did not say (OR, try to destroy what I am doing); they are always thinking of ways to harm me.

6In order to cause trouble for me, they hide and watch everything that I do,
waiting for an opportunity to kill me [MTY].

7So, God, punish them for the wicked things that they are doing; show that you are angry by defeating those people!

8You have counted all the times that I have been wandering alone/distressed; it is as though you have put all my tears in a bottle
in order that you can see how much I have cried.
You have counted my tears and written the number in your book.

9When I call out to you, my God, my enemies will be defeated; I know that will happen, because you are fighting for me.

10I praise/thank you that you do what you have promised; Yahweh, I will always praise you for that [DOU].

11I trust in you, and as a result, I will not be afraid.
I know that humans cannot really [RHQ] harm me!

12I will bring to you the offering that I promised;
I will bring an offering to you to thank you,

13because you have rescued me from being killed; you have kept me from stumbling. As a result, I will continue to live in your presence in the light that shines on those who are still alive (OR, in the light that enables people to live).