To the Director: A special Davidic psalma to the tune ofb “A Silent Dove Far Away,” when the Philistines seized him in Gath.

A Prayer about Trust in God

1Have mercy on me, God,

because men have harassed me.

Those who oppress me have fought against me all day long.

2Those who watch me all day have harassed me,

for there are many who fight against me out of conceit.

3On days when I am afraid,

I put my trust in you.

4In God, whose word I praise,

in God I put my trust.

I will not fear what mortal manc can do to me.

5All day long peopled distort what I say;

all their schemes against me are for evil purposes.

6They gather together

and hide in ambush.

They watch my every step

as they lie in wait for my life.

7Cast them away because of their wickedness.

In wrath, God, cast down thesee people!

8You have kept count of my wanderings.

Put my tears in your bottle—

have not you recorded them in your book?

9My enemies will retreat when I call on you.f

This has been my experience,

because God is with me.

10In God, whose word I praise,

in the LORD, whose word I praise,

11in God I will put my trust.

I will not fear what mortal man can do to me.

12God, I have taken vows before you;g

therefore I will offer thanksgiving sacrifices to you.

13For you have delivered meh from death

and my feet from stumbling,

so that I may walk before God in the light of the living!