Psalms 56 · Verse 8

Psalms 56:8

Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?
Psalms 56:8, King James Version

Psalms 56:8 in other translations

BSBYou have taken account of my wanderings. Put my tears in Your bottle— are they not in Your book?
WEBYou count my wanderings. You put my tears into your container. Aren’t they in your book?
ASVThou numberest my wanderings: Put thou my tears into thy bottle; Are they not in thy book?
YLTMy wandering Thou hast counted, Thou--place Thou my tear in Thy bottle, Are they not in Thy book?
DARBYThou countest my wanderings; put my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?
BBEYou have seen my wanderings; put the drops from my eyes into your bottle; are they not in your record?
WebsterThou numberest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?

What does Psalms 56:8 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
8. God is mindful of his exile and remembers his tears. The custom of bottling the tears of mourners as a memorial, which has existed in some Eastern nations, may explain the figure.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 8 Thou tellest my wanderings - Thou seest how often I am obliged to shift the place of my retreat. I am hunted every where; but thou numberest all my hiding-places, and seest how often I am in danger of losing my life. Put thou my tears into thy bottle - Here is an allusion to a very ancient custom, which we know long obtained among the Greeks and Romans, of putting the tears which were shed for the death of any person into small phials, called lacrymatories or urns lacrymales and offering them on the tomb of the deceased. Some of these were of glass, some of pottery, and some of agate, sardonyx, etc. A small one in my own collection is of hard baked clay. Are they not in thy book? - Thou hast taken an exact account of all the tears I have shed in relation to this business; and thou wilt call my enemies to account for every tear.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 56:8-13
The heavy and continued trials through which many of the Lord's people have passed, should teach us to be silent and patient under lighter crosses. Yet we are often tempted to repine and despond under small sorrows. For this we should check ourselves. David comforts himself, in his distress and fear, that God noticed all his grievances and all his griefs. God has a bottle and a book for his people's tears, both the tears for their sins, and those for their afflictions. He observes them with tender concern. Every true believer may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and then I will not fear what man shall do unto me; for man has no power but what is given him from above. Thy vows are upon me, O Lord; not as a burden, but as that by which I am known to be thy servant; as a bridle that restrains me from what would be hurtful, and directs me in the way of my duty. And vows of thankfulness properly accompany prayers for mercy. If God deliver us from sin, either from doing it, or by his pardoning mercy, he has delivered our souls from death, which is the wages of sin. Where the Lord has begun a good work he will carry it on and perfect it. David hopes that God would keep him even from the appearance of sin. We should aim in all our desires and expectations of deliverance, both from sin and trouble, that we may do the better service to the Lord; that we may serve him without fear. If his grace has delivered our souls from the death of sin, he will bring us to heaven, to walk before him for ever in light.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Psalms 56:8 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

נֹדִי֮no.Diwandering myH5112
סָפַ֪רְתָּ֫הsa.Far.Tahyou have taken account ofH5608
אָ֥תָּה'A.tahyouH859
שִׂ֣ימָהSi.mahput !H7760
דִמְעָתִ֣יdim.'a.Titear[s] myH1832
בְנֹאדֶ֑ךָve.no.De.khain skin-bottle yourH4997
הֲ֝לֹ֗אha.Lo'¿ notH3808
בְּסִפְרָתֶֽךָ\׃be.sif.ra.Te.kha[is it] in scroll yourH5612

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 56:8

  • 2 Kings 20:5

    Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the Lord.

  • Malachi 3:16

    Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.

  • Psalms 39:12

    Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.

  • Revelation 7:17

    For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

  • Psalms 126:5-6

    They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

  • Matthew 10:30

    But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

  • Psalms 139:16

    Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

  • Psalms 121:8

    The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

  • Hebrews 11:13

    These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

  • Isaiah 63:9

    In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.

  • Job 16:20

    My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.

  • Psalms 105:13-14

    When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people; He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes;

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
tellest.
105:13,14; 121:8; Nu 33:2-56; 1Sa 19:18; 22:1-5; 27:1; Isa 63:9
2Co 11:26; Heb 11:8,13,38
put.
39:12; 126:5,6; 2Ki 20:5; Job 16:20; Re 7:17
are they.
139:16; Mal 3:16; Mt 10:30; Re 20:12

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 56:7

    Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God.

  • Psalms 56:8

    Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?

  • Psalms 56:9

    When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.

Read all of Psalms 56

Psalms 56:8 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mis huídas has tú contado: pon mis lágrimas en tu redoma: ¿no están ellas en tu libro?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Échapperont-ils par l’iniquité? Dans ta colère, ô Dieu, précipite les peuples!
German
Elberfelder 1871		Mein Umherirren zählst du. Lege in deinen Schlauch meine Tränen; sind sie nicht in deinem Buche?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Paratum cor meum, Deus, paratum cor meum; cantabo, et psalmum dicam.