Psalms 56:1
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
Be merciful to me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresses me.
American King James Version (AKJV)
Be merciful to me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresses me.
American Standard Version (ASV)
Be merciful unto me, O God; for man would swallow me up: All the day long he fighting oppresseth me.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
<To the chief music-maker; put to Jonath elem rehokim. Of David. Michtam. When the Philistines took him in Gath.> Have mercy on me, O God, for man is attempting my destruction; every day he makes cruel attacks against me.
Webster's Revision
To the chief Musician upon Jonathelem-rechokim, Michtam of David, when the Philistines took him in Gath. Be merciful to me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me.
World English Bible
Be merciful to me, God, for man wants to swallow me up. All day long, he attacks and oppresses me.
English Revised Version (ERV)
For the Chief Musician; set to Jonath elem rehokim. A Psalm of David: Michtam: when the Philistines took him in Gath. Be merciful unto me, O God; for man would swallow me up: all the day long he fighting oppresseth me.
Clarke's Psalms 56:1 Bible Commentary
Be merciful unto me - I am assailed both at home and abroad. I can go nowhere without meeting with enemies: unless thou who art the Fountain of mercy and the Most High, stand up in my behalf, my enemies will most undoubtedly prevail against me. They fight against me continually, and I am in the utmost danger of being swallowed up by them.
Barnes's Psalms 56:1 Bible Commentary
Be merciful unto me, O God - See the notes at Psalm 51:1.
For man would swallow me up - The word used here means properly to breathe hard; to pant; to blow hard; and then, to pant after, to yawn after with open mouth. The idea is, that people came upon him everywhere with open mouth, as if they would swallow him down whole. He found no friend in man - in any man. Everywhere his life was sought. There was no "man," wherever he might go, on whom he could rely, or whom he could trust; and his only refuge, therefore, was in God.
He fighting daily - Constantly; without intermission. That is, all people seemed to be at war with him, and to pursue him always.
Oppresseth me - Presses hard upon me; so presses on me as always to endanger my life, and so that I feel no security anywhere.
