King James Version

Psalms 56:1

Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me.

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Hebrew

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In the Hebrew text this line is Psalms 56:2. The heading is Hebrew Psalms 56:1.

Heading in the Hebrew text

לַמְנַצֵּ֤חַlamnatsechato excelנָצַחpreposition, with the article, verb, piel, participle, absolute — “to excel”, a verb used as a describing wordH5329properly, to glitter from afar, i.e. to be eminent (as a superintendent, especially of the Temple services and its music); to be permanentexcel, chief musician (singer), oversee(-r), set forward.עַלalaboveעַלpreposition — “above”H5921above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applicationsabove, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of,…י֬וֹנַתyonatdoveיוֹנָהnoun, common, feminine, singular, construct — “dove”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH3123a dove (apparently from the warmth of their mating)dove, pigeon.אֵ֣לֶםelemsilence (iאֵלֶםnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “silence (i”, the ordinary formH482silence (i.e. mute justice)congregation. Compare H3128 (יוֹנַת אֵלֶם רְחֹקִים).רְ֭חֹקִיםrechoqimof oldרָחוֹקadjective, adjective, masculine, plural, absolute — “of old”, the ordinary formH7350remote, literally or figuratively, of place or time; specifically, precious; often used adverbially (with preposition)(a-) far (abroad, off), long ago, of old, space, great while to come.לְדָוִ֣דledavidto Davidדָּוִדpreposition, noun, proper name — “to David”H1732David, the youngest son of JesseDavid.מִכְתָּ֑םmikhtamMichtamמִכְתָּםnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “Michtam”, the ordinary formH4387an engraving, i.e. (techn.) a poemMichtam.בֶּֽאֱחֹ֨זbeechozin holdאָחַזpreposition, verb, qal, infinitive construct — “in hold”, the to-form of the verbH270to seize (often with the accessory idea of holding in possession)[phrase] be affrighted, bar, (catch, lay, take) hold (back), come upon, fasten, handle, portion, (get, have or take) possess(-ion).אֹת֖וֹotvoobject markerאֵתparticle, direct object marker, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “object marker”H853properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)(as such unrepresented in English).פְלִשְׁתִּ֣יםfelishtimPhilistineפְּלִשְׁתִּיnoun, gentilic, masculine, plural, absolute — “Philistine”, the ordinary formH6430a Pelishtite or inhabitant of PeleshethPhilistine.בְּגַֽתbegatin Gathגַּתpreposition, noun, proper name — “in Gath”H1661Gath, a Philistine cityGath.

חָנֵּ֣נִיchanenibeseechחָנַןverb, qal, imperative, 2nd person, masculine, singular, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “beseech”, a commandH2603properly, to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior; to favor, bestow; causatively to implore (i.e. move to favor by petition)beseech, [idiom] fair, (be, find, shew) favour(-able), be (deal, give, grant (gracious(-ly), intreat, (be) merciful, have (shew) mercy (on, upon), have pity upon, pray, make supplication, [idiom] very.אֱ֭לֹהִיםelohimGodאֱלֹהִיםnoun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “God”, the ordinary formH430gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlativeangels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.כִּֽיkiassuredכִּיconjunction — “assured”H3588(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexedand, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + til…שְׁאָפַ֣נִיsheafanidesireשָׁאַףverb, qal, perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “desire”, a completed actionH7602to inhale eagerly; figuratively, to cover; by implication, to be angry; also to hastendesire (earnestly), devour, haste, pant, snuff up, swallow up.אֱנ֑וֹשׁenoshmanאֱנוֹשׁnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “man”, the ordinary formH582a man in general (singly or collectively)another, [idiom] (blood-) thirsty, certain, chap(-man); divers, fellow, [idiom] in the flower of their age, husband, (certain, mortal) man, people, person, servant, some ([idiom] of them), [phrase] stranger, those, [phrase] their trade. It…כָּלkalallכֹּלnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “all”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH3605properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever).הַ֝יּ֗וֹםhayomthe as long asיוֹםdefinite article, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “the as long as”, the ordinary formH3117a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) lon…לֹחֵ֥םlochemdevourלָחַםverb, qal, participle, absolute — “devour”, a verb used as a describing wordH3898to feed on; figuratively, to consume; by implication, to battle (as destruction)devour, eat, [idiom] ever, fight(-ing), overcome, prevail, (make) war(-ring).יִלְחָצֵֽנִיyilchatseniafflictלָחַץverb, qal, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “afflict”, an unfinished actionH3905properly, to press, i.e. (figuratively) to distressafflict, crush, force, hold fast, oppress(-or), thrust self.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

(56-1) For the Leader; upon Jonath-elem-rehokim. A Psalm of David; Michtam; when the Philistines took him in Gath. (56-2) Be gracious unto me, O God, for man would swallow me up; all the day he fighting oppresseth me.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

Be merciful unto me, O God; for man would swallow me up: All the day long he fighting oppresseth me.

Young’s Literal Translation

To the Overseer. — 'On the Dumb Dove far off.' — A secret treasure of David, in the Philistines' taking hold of him in Gath. Favour me, O God, for man swallowed me up, All the day fighting he 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.

Darby Translation

Be gracious unto me, O God; for man would swallow me up: all the day long fighting he oppresseth me.

Douay-Rheims

Unto the end, destroy not, for David, for an inscription of a title, when he fled from Saul into the cave. [1 Kings 24]

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

Have mercy upon me, O God; for man has trodden me down; all the day long he warring has afflicted me.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ἐλεήσον με ὁ Θεὸς, ὅτι κατεπάτησέ με ἄνθρωπος, ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν πολεμῶν ἔθλιψέ με.