Be Merciful to Me, O God
(1 Samuel 21:8–15)
For the choirmaster. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” A Miktam 1of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath.
Be merciful to me, O God, 1Sa 29:4Psa 16:1Psa 31:9Psa 59:1Psa 69:13-161Co 15:541Sa 21:11-15Psa 143:12
for men are hounding me;
all day they press their attack.
My enemies pursue me all day long, Psa 118:10-12Psa 57:3Act 4:25-27Dan 5:18Isa 57:15Mic 6:6Psa 3:1Psa 35:1
for many proudly assail me.
When I am afraid, Psa 34:41Sa 30:62Co 7:5-6Psa 55:4-52Co 1:8-101Sa 21:122Ch 20:3Psa 11:1
I put my trust in You.
In God, whose word I praise— Heb 13:6Psa 118:6Rom 8:31-39Psa 27:1Isa 41:10Luk 12:4-5Psa 56:10-11Psa 46:1-2
in God I trust.
I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?
All day long they twist my words; Mat 22:15Luk 11:54Psa 41:7Isa 29:20-212Pe 3:161Sa 18:211Sa 18:17Jhn 2:19
all their thoughts are on my demise.
They conspire, they lurk, Psa 59:3Psa 71:10Psa 140:2Act 23:12-14Luk 20:20Act 4:5-6Dan 6:4Isa 54:15
they watch my steps
while they wait to take my life.
In spite of such sin, will they escape? 2 Psa 55:23Ecc 8:8Hab 1:13Isa 28:15Jer 10:25Jer 18:19-23Jer 7:10Psa 36:12
In Your anger, O God, cast down the nations.
You have taken account of my wanderings. 3 2Ki 20:5Mal 3:16Psa 39:12Rev 7:17Psa 126:5-6Mat 10:30Psa 139:16Psa 121:8
Put my tears in Your bottle—
are they not in Your book?
Then my enemies will retreat Rom 8:31Psa 118:6Isa 8:9-10Psa 102:2Psa 118:11-13Psa 46:11Jer 33:3Psa 46:7
on the day I cry for help.
By this I will know that God is on my side.
In God, whose word I praise, Mat 24:35Gen 32:11Psa 56:42Pe 1:4Heb 6:18Psa 60:6
in the LORD, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I will not be afraid. Psa 27:1Isa 51:12-13Isa 51:7-8Psa 112:7-8
What can man do to me?
Your vows are upon me, O God; Psa 9:1-31Sa 1:24-28Psa 50:14Ecc 5:4-6Num 30:2-16Psa 119:106Psa 76:111Sa 1:11
I will render thank offerings to You.
For You have delivered my soul from death, Psa 116:8-9Job 33:30Rev 21:23-24Psa 145:14Psa 49:151Th 1:10Isa 2:5Psa 17:5
and my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before God
in the light of life.