Psalm 56:5 - Printer Friendly

ESV: All day long they injure my cause; all their thoughts are against me for evil.

NIV: All day long they twist my words; all their schemes are for my ruin.

NASB: All day long they distort my words; All their thoughts are against me for evil.

CSB: They twist my words all day long; all their thoughts against me are evil.

NLT: They are always twisting what I say; they spend their days plotting to harm me.

KJV: Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.

NKJV: All day they twist my words; All their thoughts are against me for evil.

Saul was jealous and intent on killing David (1 Samuel 19:1–2). At one point, David desperately crossed into enemy territory (Psalm 56:1; 1 Samuel 21:10) hoping the Philistines would assume he was rebelling against Saul. He likely assumed Saul would never look for him in a Philistine city. However, by hiding in Gath, David put his life at risk. The Philistines recognized him and plotted evil. For this reason, David pretended to be insane, hoping the enemy would keep their distance (1 Samuel 21:11–15).

Believers should not expect to receive anything but persecution from the world (2 Timothy 3:12). The evil world system is not the believer's friend (John 15:18–21). Jesus promised that His followers would experience difficulties in this life (John 16:33). Yet Jesus also said He had already attained victory over the world. Abraham's nephew Lot chose to settle in Sodom, an extremely wicked city. It was a bad choice. Eventually, God judged Sodom, pouring down sulfur and fire on the city. He spared Lot and his family, but Lot left everything he owned in Sodom when he fled for his life (Genesis 19:24–30). Christians should not be surprised when the unbelieving world applies evil thoughts and evil plans against them.

Psalm 56:5–11 describes the hateful actions of David's enemies. He pleads with the Lord to punish these foes. He recalls the misery of his flight from Saul in the wilderness (1 Samuel 19:18; 20:1). David was assured God knew his troubles. Poetically, David speaks of God's precious awareness of suffering. He believed the Lord would answer his prayers and defeat his enemies. With confidence that God was on his side, David vowed to praise God's Word, trust in Him, and not be afraid.

David prays for God's protection as he is "oppressed" and "trampled" by his enemies. This refers to his experience in enemy territory near the city of Gath (1 Samuel 21:10–15). Despite natural fear, David chooses to trust in God. He knows the Lord will bring judgment to evil people, and that God sees everything which David has experienced. David resolves to praise the Lord once this danger has passed.

When David fled from Saul (1 Samuel 19:1–2, 18; 22:17–19), he was forced to enter enemy territory: the land of the Philistines. When he was recognized, David was captured but pretended to be insane (1 Samuel 21:10–15). This psalm reflects his prayer for safety while subject to these dangers.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.