New International Version They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps, hoping to take my life. New Living Translation They come together to spy on me— watching my every step, eager to kill me. English Standard Version They stir up strife, they lurk; they watch my steps, as they have waited for my life. Berean Standard Bible They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps while they wait to take my life. Berean Literal Bible They gather together, they hide, they mark my steps when they lie in wait for my soul. King James Bible They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul. New King James Version They gather together, They hide, they mark my steps, When they lie in wait for my life. New American Standard Bible They attack, they lurk, They watch my steps, As they have waited to take my life. NASB 1995 They attack, they lurk, They watch my steps, As they have waited to take my life. NASB 1977 They attack, they lurk, They watch my steps, As they have waited to take my life. Legacy Standard Bible They attack, they lurk, They watch my heels, As they have hoped to take my life. Amplified Bible They attack, they hide and lurk, They watch my steps, As they have [expectantly] waited to take my life. Berean Annotated Bible They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps while they wait to take my life. Christian Standard Bible They stir up strife, they lurk, they watch my steps while they wait to take my life. Holman Christian Standard Bible They stir up strife, they lurk; they watch my steps while they wait to take my life. American Standard Version They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, They mark my steps, Even as they have waited for my soul. Contemporary English Version They attack from ambush, watching my every step and hoping to kill me. English Revised Version They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, even as they have waited for my soul. GOD'S WORD® Translation They attack, and then they hide. They watch my every step as they wait to take my life. Good News Translation They gather in hiding places and watch everything I do, hoping to kill me. International Standard Version They gather together and hide in ambush. They watch my every step as they lie in wait for my life. NET Bible They stalk and lurk; they watch my every step, as they prepare to take my life. New Heart English Bible They conspire and lurk, watching my steps, they are eager to take my life. Webster's Bible Translation They assemble themselves, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThey conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps while they wait to take my life. World English Bible They conspire and lurk, watching my steps. They are eager to take my life. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionThey assemble, they hide, they watch my heels, "" When they have expected my soul. Berean Literal Bible They gather together, they hide, they mark my steps when they lie in wait for my soul. Young's Literal Translation They assemble, they hide, they watch my heels, When they have expected my soul. Smith's Literal Translation They will sojourn, they will hide, they will watch my heels as they waited for my soul. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThey will dwell and hide themselves: they will watch my heel. As they have waited for my soul, Catholic Public Domain Version New American Bible They hide together in ambush; they watch my every step; they lie in wait for my life. New Revised Standard Version They stir up strife, they lurk, they watch my steps. As they hoped to have my life, Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThey will wait in hiding, they will watch my steps, inasmuch as they wish for my death. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated They will lie in wait and they will stay and they will watch my steps as they lay wait for my life. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, They mark my steps; According as they have waited for my soul. Brenton Septuagint Translation They will dwell near and hide themselves; they will watch my steps, accordingly as I have waited patiently in my soul. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context Be Merciful to Me, O God…5All day long they twist my words; all their thoughts are on my demise. 6They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps while they wait to take my life. 7In spite of such sin, will they escape? In Your anger, O God, cast down the nations.… Cross References They conspire, Psalm 31:13 For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side. They conspire against me and plot to take my life. Jeremiah 11:19 For I was like a gentle lamb led to slaughter; I did not know that they had plotted against me: “Let us destroy the tree with its fruit; let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be remembered no more.” Psalm 41:7 All who hate me whisper against me; they imagine the worst for me: they lurk, Psalm 10:8 He lies in wait near the villages; in ambush he slays the innocent; his eyes watch in stealth for the helpless. Proverbs 1:11 If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause, Micah 7:2 The godly man has perished from the earth; there is no one upright among men. They all lie in wait for blood; they hunt one another with a net. they watch my steps Lamentations 4:18 They stalked our every step, so that we could not walk in our streets. Our end drew near, our time ran out, for our end had come! Psalm 17:11 They have tracked us down, and now surround us; their eyes are set to cast us to the ground, Job 31:4 Does He not see my ways and count my every step? while they wait to take my life. Psalm 59:3 See how they lie in wait for me. Fierce men conspire against me for no transgression or sin of my own, O LORD. Psalm 37:32 Though the wicked lie in wait for the righteous, and seek to slay them, 1 Samuel 23:14 And David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God would not deliver David into his hand. Jeremiah 18:18 Then some said, “Come, let us make plans against Jeremiah, for the law will never be lost to the priest, nor counsel to the wise, nor an oracle to the prophet. Come, let us denounce him and pay no heed to any of his words.” Psalm 64:2-6 Hide me from the scheming of the wicked, from the mob of workers of iniquity, / who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows, / ambushing the innocent in seclusion, shooting suddenly, without fear. … Psalm 140:1-5 For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men. Protect me from men of violence, / who devise evil in their hearts and stir up war all day long. / They sharpen their tongues like snakes; the venom of vipers is on their lips. Selah … Psalm 10:9-10 He lies in wait like a lion in a thicket; he lurks to seize the oppressed; he catches the lowly in his net. / They are crushed and beaten down; the helpless fall prey to his strength. Treasury of Scripture They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul. gather Psalm 2:1-3 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? … Psalm 59:3 For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD. Psalm 71:10 For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together, jide Psalm 10:8-10 He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor… Psalm 64:2-6 Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity: … Daniel 6:4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. Jump to Previous Assemble Attack Band Conspire Eager Expected Gather Heels Hide Lurk Mark Places Secret Soul Steps Themselves Together Wait Waited Waiting Watch WatchingJump to Next Assemble Attack Band Conspire Eager Expected Gather Heels Hide Lurk Mark Places Secret Soul Steps Themselves Together Wait Waited Waiting Watch WatchingPsalm 56 1. David, praying to God in confidence of his word, complains of his enemies,9. He professes his confidence in God's word, and promises to praise him They conspire, David’s enemies deliberately plan against him, as Saul and his followers repeatedly did during David’s years as a fugitive. Their hostility is calculated rather than impulsive. Psa 31:13 For I hear the slander of many; there is terror… they lurk, They remain concealed, waiting for an opportunity to strike, like men setting an ambush against one who cannot safely rest. Psa 10:8 He lies in wait near the villages; in ambush… they watch my steps David is closely tracked, likely through Saul’s informants and local inhabitants who reported his movements. Every journey and refuge becomes dangerous because his enemies seek to anticipate his actions. Lam 4:18 They stalked our every step, so that we could not walk… while they wait to take my life. Their purpose is not merely to shame or remove David from power but to kill him. Yet their schemes cannot overturn God’s purpose to preserve David and establish him as king. Psa 59:3 See how they lie in wait for me. Fierce men conspire… Persons / Places / Events 1. DavidThe author of the psalm, who is expressing his distress and seeking God's protection from his enemies. 2. Enemies The adversaries of David, who are plotting against him and seeking to harm him. 3. Philistines The historical context of this psalm is believed to be when David was captured by the Philistines in Gath, as noted in the title of the psalm. 4. Gath A Philistine city where David sought refuge but found himself in danger. 5. God The ultimate protector and deliverer whom David trusts amidst his trials. Teaching Points Trust in God's ProtectionDespite the schemes of enemies, believers can trust in God's sovereign protection. Awareness of Spiritual Warfare Just as David faced physical enemies, Christians face spiritual adversaries and must remain vigilant. Prayer as a Weapon David's response to his enemies was to turn to God in prayer, setting an example for believers to follow. God's Omniscience God is aware of the plots against His people and is actively involved in their defense. Faith Over Fear David's faith in God overcame his fear of his enemies, teaching believers to prioritize faith over fear. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Psalm 56:6?2. How can we trust God when others "conspire" and "lurk" against us? 3. What does Psalm 56:6 teach about the nature of human opposition? 4. How does Psalm 56:6 relate to Jesus' experiences with His adversaries? 5. How can prayer help us when facing those who "watch my steps"? 6. In what ways can Psalm 56:6 encourage us during spiritual battles? 7. What does Psalm 56:6 reveal about the nature of human enemies and their intentions? 8. How does Psalm 56:6 challenge our understanding of divine protection against adversaries? 9. In what ways does Psalm 56:6 reflect the historical context of David's struggles? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Psalm 56? (6) They hide themselves.--Better, they set spies. Mark my steps.--Literally, watch my heels. (See Psalm 49:5; Psalm 89:51.) Verse 6. - They gather themselves together, they hide themselves; or, "they gather themselves together; they set an ambush." They mark my steps, when they wait for my soul; literally, they, even they, mark my steps; i.e. they themselves, grand as they are, condescend to be spies, and track my footsteps. Psalm 56:6 paints a four–part portrait of relentless, calculated hostility against the believer: conspirators gather, lurking enemies hide, vigilant foes track every move, and all of it aims at destruction. Yet the same Scripture that exposes these threats also assures us that the Lord watches more closely, rules more completely, and saves more powerfully than any human plot can imagine.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew They conspire,יָג֤וּרוּ ׀ (yā·ḡū·rū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 1481: To turn aside from the road, sojourn, to shrink, fear, to gather for, hostility they lurk, יִצְפּ֗וֹנוּ (yiṣ·pō·w·nū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 6845: To hide, to hoard, reserve, to deny, to protect, to lurk they הֵ֭מָּה (hêm·māh) Pronoun - third person masculine plural Strong's 1992: They watch יִשְׁמֹ֑רוּ (yiš·mō·rū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to my steps, עֲקֵבַ֣י (‘ă·qê·ḇay) Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular Strong's 6119: Heel, footprint, hind part while כַּ֝אֲשֶׁ֗ר (ka·’ă·šer) Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that they wait קִוּ֥וּ (qiw·wū) Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 6960: To bind together, collect, to expect to take my life. נַפְשִֽׁי׃ (nap̄·šî) Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion Additonal Resources Psalm 56:6 Blue Letter BiblePsalm 56:6 Bible Gateway Psalm 56:6 Bible.com Psalm 56:6 NIV |
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