Psalms 56:1

For the music director; according to the yonath-elem-rechovim style; ²  a prayer ³  of David, written when the Philistines captured him in Gath. ⁴  Have mercy on me, O God, for men are attacking me! ⁵  All day long hostile enemies ⁶  are tormenting me. ⁷ 

1Sa 21:11-15; 1Sa 29:4; Ps 16:1; Ps 21:9; Ps 27:2; Ps 31:9; Ps 35:25; Ps 57:1; Ps 57:1-3; Ps 57:3; Ps 58:1; Ps 59:1; Ps 59:10; Ps 60:1; Ps 69:13-16; Ps 106:17; Ps 124:3; Ps 136:10,15,17-20; Ps 143:12; Pr 1:12; La 2:2,5,16; Ho 8:8; 1Co 15:54

¹ sn Psalm 56. Despite the threats of his enemies, the psalmist is confident the Lord will keep his promise to protect and deliver him.

² tn The literal meaning of this phrase is “silent dove, distant ones.” Perhaps it refers to a particular style of music, a tune title, or a type of musical instrument.

³ tn The precise meaning of the Hebrew word מִכְתָּם (miktam), which also appears in the heading to Pss 16 and 57-60 is uncertain. HALOT 582-83 s.v. defines it as “inscription.”

⁴ sn According to the superscription, David wrote this psalm when the Philistines seized him and took him to King Achish of Gath (see 1 Sam 21:11-15).

⁵ tn According to BDB 983 s.v. II שָׁאַף, the verb is derived from שָׁאַף (sha’af, “to trample, crush”) rather than the homonymic verb “pant after.”

⁶ tn Heb “a fighter.” The singular is collective for his enemies (see vv. 5-6). The Qal of לָחַם (lakham, “fight”) also occurs in Ps 35:1.

⁷ tn The imperfect verbal form draws attention to the continuing nature of the enemies’ attacks.