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In groups they hide in ambush
    and spy on my every step,
    determined to take my life.
Shall they escape in their iniquity?
    Strike down the nations, O God, in your anger.
You have kept count of my wanderings
    and stored my tears in your flask,
    recording all these in your book.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 56:9 God cares for his faithful and keeps a careful record of everything about them (see note on Ps 51:3)—even the tears they shed when they are in trouble. The theme of God’s record is frequent (see, e.g., Ps 139:16; Job 19:23; Mal 3:16). Each tear of the righteous will be compensated (see 2 Ki 20:5; Isa 25:8; Rev 7:17). Indeed, Jesus indicated that God has such concern for us that he knows the number of hairs on our head (Mt 10:30).

Because of their wickedness do not[a] let them escape;(A)
    in your anger, God, bring the nations down.(B)

Record my misery;
    list my tears on your scroll[b](C)
    are they not in your record?(D)
Then my enemies will turn back(E)
    when I call for help.(F)
    By this I will know that God is for me.(G)

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 56:7 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text does not have do not.
  2. Psalm 56:8 Or misery; / put my tears in your wineskin