Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 56:1
Be merciful unto me, O God - See the notes at Psalms 51:1.For man would swallow me up - The word used here means properly to breathe hard; to pant; to blow hard; and then, to pant after, to yawn after with open mouth. The idea is, that people came upon him everywhere with open mouth, as if they would swallow him down whole. He found no friend in man - in any man. Everywhere his life was sought. There was no “man,” wherever he might go, on whom he could rely, or whom he could trust; and his only... read more
The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 56:2
Mine enemies ; literally, my watchers —those who keep a continual guard over me. If David had been seized and made a prisoner by the Philistine lords, this expression would be very appropriate. Would daily swallow me up; rather, pant after me all day. For they be many that fight against me. The "lords of the Philistines'' were, doubtless, "many;" they seem to have, all of them, opposed themselves to David ( 1 Samuel 29:2-9 ). O thou Most High. This rendering is now generally... read more