Psalm 56

Psalm 56:2-3, 9-10a, 10b-11, 12-13

#314 Weekday Year II Context (Thursday of the 2nd Week in Ordinary Time)

R. (5b) In God I trust; I shall not fear.

Have mercy on me, O God, for men trample upon me;
all the day they press their attack against me.
My adversaries trample upon me all the day;
yes, many fight against me.
R. In God I trust; I shall not fear.

My wanderings you have counted;
my tears are stored in your flask;
are they not recorded in your book?
Then do my enemies turn back,
when I call upon you.
R. In God I trust; I shall not fear.

Now I know that God is with me.
In God, in whose promise I glory,
in God I trust without fear;
what can flesh do against me?
R. In God I trust; I shall not fear.

I am bound, O God, by vows to you;
your thank offerings I will fulfill.
For you have rescued me from death,
my feet, too, from stumbling;
that I may walk before God in the light of the living.
R. In God I trust; I shall not fear.
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Commentary on Ps 56:2-3, 9-10a, 10b-11, 12-13

Psalm 56 is a lament in which the psalmist is being pressed by enemies, but has faith that God will support the faithful against all odds. The singer further pledges continuing faithfulness in thanksgiving for the Lord’s help.

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Psalm 56:10c-12, 13-14

#448 Weekday Year II Context (Saturday of the 24th Week in Ordinary Time)

R. (14) I will walk in the presence of God, in the light of the living.

Now I know that God is with me.
In God, in whose promise I glory,
in God I trust without fear;
what can flesh do against me?
R. I will walk in the presence of God, in the light of the living.

I am bound, O God, by vows to you;
your thank offerings I will fulfill.
For you have rescued me from death,
my feet, too, from stumbling;
that I may walk before God in the light of the living.
R. I will walk in the presence of God, in the light of the living.
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Commentary on Ps 56:10c-12, 13-14

Psalm 56 is an individual lament. The psalmist expresses unbounded faith in God who will protect and lift up his faithful children. The singer’s own fidelity wins salvation from God who rescues him from death. Placed against St. Paul’s description of the resurrected body, these strophes reflect the salvation of resurrection as the faithful walk with God.

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