Psalms 56:1-13

LVI. A Prayer against Strong, Numerous, and Crafty Foes.

Psalms 56:2. For enemies read they that lie in wait for me (mg.), proudly: read bitterly.

Psalms 56:4. Will praise his word, i.e. the fulfilment of His promise. The fulfilment comes, of course, through God. The verse recurs in Psalms 56:10 f., which is probably its original place since it cannot be a refrain. It has been anticipated here by a mistake of the scribe.

Psalms 56:6 b, c, Psalms 56:7 a. Read, with slight change in text, As for them that watch for my footsteps, since they have hoped for my death, even so requite them according to their iniquity.

Psalms 56:7 b. For peoples read, by changing only one letter, strong or bold. Nations were not concerned in the petty espionage which the Ps. describes.

Psalms 56:8. tellest, i.e. countest (Genesis 15:5 *). Yahweh preserves the tears of the godly that He may remember and revenge them.