Scripture Verse

Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me. Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O Thou most High. Psalm 56:1

Introduction

Words: From The Psal­ter (Pitts­burgh, Penn­syl­van­ia: Unit­ed Pres­by­te­ri­an Board of Pub­li­ca­tion, 1912), num­ber 151.

Music: Ca­na, ano­ny­mous, in The Psal­ter (Pitts­burgh, Penn­syl­van­ia: Unit­ed Pres­by­te­ri­an Board of Pub­li­ca­tion, 1912), num­ber 151 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

Lyrics

O God, be merciful,
Be merciful to me,
For man with constant hate,
Would fain my ruin see.
My many enemies
Against me proudly fight;
To overwhelm my soul
They watch from morn to night.

What time I am afraid
I put my trust in Thee;
In God I rest, and praise
His Word, so rich and free;
In God I put my trust,
I neither doubt nor fear,
For man can ne­ver harm
With God my helper near.

All day they wrest my words,
Their thoughts are full of hate;
They meet, they lurk, they watch,
As for my soul they wait;
Shall they by wickedness
Escape Thy judg­ment right?
O God of right­eous­ness
Destroy them in Thy might.

Thou knowest all my woes,
O treasure Thou my tears;
Are they not in Thy book,
Where all my life appears?
My foes shall backward turn
When I appeal to Thee,
For this I surely know,
That God is still for me.

In God, the Lord, I rest,
His word of grace I praise,
His promise stands secure,
Nor fear nor foe dismays;
In God I put my trust,
I neither doubt nor fear,
For man can ne­ver harm
With God my helper near.

Upon me are Thy vows,
O God, in whom I live;
The sacrifice of praise
To Thee I now will give;
For Thou hast saved from death,
From falling kept me free,
That in the light of life
My walk may be with Thee.