Psalm 56:4 In God, whose word I praise--in God I trust. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

◄ Psalm 56:4 ►

New International Version
In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

New Living Translation
I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?

English Standard Version
In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?

Berean Standard Bible
In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

King James Bible
In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

New King James Version
In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?

New American Standard Bible
In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

NASB 1995
In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?

NASB 1977
In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?

Legacy Standard Bible
In God, whose word I praise, In God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?

Amplified Bible
In God, whose word I praise; In God I have put my trust; I shall not fear. What can mere man do to me?

Christian Standard Bible
In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not fear. What can man do to me?

American Standard Version
In God (I will praise his word), In God have I put my trust, I will not be afraid; What can flesh do unto me?

Contemporary English Version
I praise your promises! I trust you and am not afraid. No one can harm me.

English Revised Version
In God I will praise his word: in God have I put my trust, I will not be afraid; what can flesh do unto me?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I praise the word of God. I trust God. I am not afraid. What can mere flesh [and blood] do to me?

Good News Translation
I trust in God and am not afraid; I praise him for what he has promised. What can a mere human being do to me?

International Standard Version
In God, whose word I praise, in God I put my trust. I will not fear what mortal man can do to me.

Majority Standard Bible
In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

NET Bible
In God--I boast in his promise--in God I trust, I am not afraid. What can mere men do to me?

New Heart English Bible
In God, I praise his word. In God, I put my trust. I will not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?

Webster's Bible Translation
In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do to me.

World English Bible
In God, I praise his word. In God, I put my trust. I will not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
In God I praise His word, in God I have trusted, "" I do not fear what flesh does to me.

Young's Literal Translation
In God I praise His word, in God I have trusted, I fear not what flesh doth to me.

Smith's Literal Translation
In God I will praise his word, in God I trusted; I will not fear what flesh shall do to me.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
In God I will praise my words, in God I have put my trust: I will not fear what flesh can do against me.

Catholic Public Domain Version
From the height of the day, I will be afraid. But truly, I will hope in you.

New American Bible
I praise the word of God; I trust in God, I do not fear. What can mere flesh do to me?

New Revised Standard Version
In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I am not afraid; what can flesh do to me?

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
In God I will be glorified, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what man can do to me.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
In God I shall triumph; in God I have hoped; I will not be afraid what a man does to me.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
In God--I will praise His word-- In God do I trust, I will not be afraid; What can flesh do unto me?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
In God I will praise my words; all the day have I hoped in God; I will not fear what flesh shall do to me.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Be Merciful to Me, O God
…3When I am afraid, I put my trust in You. 4In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? 5All day long they twist my words; all their thoughts are on my demise.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Isaiah 12:2
Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. For the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and He also has become my salvation.”

Hebrews 13:6
So we say with confidence: “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

Romans 8:31
What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Psalm 118:6
The LORD is on my side; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

Jeremiah 17:7
But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him.

2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.

Proverbs 29:25
The fear of man is a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is set securely on high.

Matthew 10:28
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Psalm 27:1
Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—whom shall I dread?

Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Philippians 4:6-7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. / And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 46:1-2
For the choirmaster. Of the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A song. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble. / Therefore we will not fear, though the earth is transformed and the mountains are toppled into the depths of the seas,

John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.

Psalm 34:4
I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.

1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Treasury of Scripture

In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do to me.

In God I will

Psalm 56:10,11
In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word…

Psalm 12:6
The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

Psalm 19:7,8
The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple…

John 10:35
If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;

in God I have

Psalm 27:1
A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 46:1,2
To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble…

Psalm 118:6
The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

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Psalm 56

1. David, praying to God in confidence of his word, complains of his enemies,
9. He professes his confidence in God's word, and promises to praise him

Berean Study Bible

In God
The phrase "In God" signifies a deep, personal relationship and reliance on the divine. The Hebrew word for God here is "Elohim," which is a plural form often used to denote the majesty and power of God. This reflects the psalmist's acknowledgment of God's supreme authority and his commitment to place his trust in the Almighty. Historically, this trust in God was central to the Israelites' identity, as they were often surrounded by hostile nations and needed to rely on God's protection and guidance.

whose word I praise
The "word" refers to God's promises and commands, which are worthy of praise because they are true and reliable. The Hebrew term for "word" is "dabar," which encompasses God's spoken and written communication. Praising God's word indicates a deep reverence and appreciation for the guidance and truth it provides. In the historical context, the Israelites held the Torah in high esteem, viewing it as the foundation of their covenant relationship with God.

in God I trust
This phrase emphasizes a conscious decision to place confidence in God. The Hebrew root for "trust" is "batach," which conveys a sense of security and assurance. Trusting in God implies a relinquishment of fear and anxiety, knowing that God is faithful and sovereign. This trust is not passive but an active reliance on God's character and promises, which is a recurring theme throughout the Psalms.

I will not be afraid
The declaration "I will not be afraid" is a bold statement of faith. The Hebrew word for "afraid" is "yare," which can mean to fear or to be in awe. Here, it signifies the absence of fear due to the psalmist's trust in God. This reflects a common biblical theme where faith in God dispels fear, as seen in the lives of figures like David, who faced numerous threats yet remained confident in God's protection.

What can man do to me?
This rhetorical question underscores the psalmist's confidence in God's protection. The term "man" refers to mortal beings, emphasizing their limitations compared to the omnipotent God. Historically, David, the attributed author of this psalm, faced many human adversaries, yet he recognized that their power was insignificant compared to God's. This perspective encourages believers to focus on God's sovereignty rather than the threats posed by others, reinforcing the idea that ultimate security is found in God alone.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(4) In God.--This verse, which forms the refrain (Psalm 56:11-12 are wrongly separated), is as it stands hardly intelligible, and the text is rendered suspicious by the fact that the LXX. read "my words," instead of "his word," and by the omission of the suffix altogether in Psalm 56:11, where the first clause of the refrain is doubled. The obvious treatment of the verse is to take the construction as in Psalm 44:8, "I praise God with my word," i.e., in spite of all my enemies I find words to praise God.

I will not.--Rather, I fear not What can flesh do?

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 4. ? In God I will praise his word; rather, through God; i.e. "with God's help, by his grace," I am ready to praise whatever sentence he pronounces, whatever flat goes forth from him. In God I have put my trust (so again, ver. 11). This is at once the refrain and the keynote of the psalm. In all dangers, in all troubles, whatever happens, whatever seems to be impending, the psalmist will never relinquish his trust in the Almighty. I will not fear what flesh can do unto me. This is the true martyr spirit. Compare our Lord's words, "Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both body and soul in hell" (Matthew 10:28).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

In God,
בֵּאלֹהִים֮ (bê·lō·hîm)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

whose word
דְּבָ֫ר֥וֹ (də·ḇā·rōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

I praise,
אֲהַלֵּ֪ל (’ă·hal·lêl)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1984: To shine

in God
בֵּאלֹהִ֣ים (bê·lō·hîm)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

I trust;
בָּ֭טַחְתִּי (bā·ṭaḥ·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 982: To trust, be confident, sure

I will not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

be afraid.
אִירָ֑א (’î·rā)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3372: To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten

What
מַה־ (mah-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

can man
בָשָׂ֣ר (ḇā·śār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1320: Flesh, body, person, the pudenda of a, man

do
יַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה (ya·‘ă·śeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

to me?
לִֽי׃ (lî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew

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OT Poetry: Psalm 56:4 In God I praise his word (Psalm Ps Psa.)