Psalms 59
59
Complaint Against Bloodthirsty Enemies
1For the director. Do not destroy.#Do not destroy: probably the title of the melody to which the Psalm was to be sung. A miktam of David, when Saul sent people to watch his house and kill him.#1 Sm 19:11.
I
2Rescue me from my enemies, my God;
lift me out of reach of my foes.
3Deliver me from evildoers;
from the bloodthirsty save me.
4They have set an ambush for my life;
the powerful conspire against me.
For no offense or misdeed of mine, Lord,
5for no fault they hurry to take up arms.
Come near and see my plight!
6You, Lord God of hosts, are the God of Israel!
Awake! Punish all the nations.
Have no mercy on these worthless traitors.
Selah
7Each evening they return,
growling like dogs, prowling the city.#Ps 55:11.
8Their mouths pour out insult;
sharp words are on their lips.
They say: “Who is there to hear?”#Who is there to hear?: a sample of the enemies’ godless reflection. The answer is that God hears their blasphemies.
9But you, Lord, laugh at them;
you deride all the nations.#Ps 2:4; 37:13; Wis 4:18.
10My strength, for you I watch;
you, God, are my fortress,
11my loving God.
II
May God go before me,
and show me my fallen foes.
12Slay them not, God,
lest they deceive my people.
Shake them by your power;
Lord, our shield, bring them down.
13For the sinful words of their mouths and lips
let them be caught in their pride.
For the lies they have told under oath#Prv 12:13; 18:7.
14destroy them in anger,
destroy till they are no more.
Then people will know God rules over Jacob,
yes, even to the ends of the earth.#Ps 83:18–19; Ez 5:13.
Selah
15Each evening they return,
growling like dogs, prowling the city.
16They roam about as scavengers;
if they are not filled, they howl.
III
17But I shall sing of your strength,
extol your mercy at dawn,
For you are my fortress,
my refuge in time of trouble.
18My strength, your praise I will sing;
you, God, are my fortress, my loving God.
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Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc
Psalms 59
59
(For the music leader. To the tune “Don't Destroy”.#Psalm 59 Don't Destroy: See the note at Psalm 57. A special psalm by David when Saul had David's house watched so that he could kill him.)#1 S 19.11.
A prayer for protection
1Save me, God! Protect me
from enemy attacks!
2Keep me safe from brutal people
who want to kill me.
3Merciless enemies, LORD,
are hiding and plotting,
hoping to kill me.
I have not hurt them
in any way at all.
4But they are ready to attack.
Do something! Help me!
Look at what's happening.
5 LORD God All-Powerful,
you are the God of Israel.
Punish the other nations
and don't pity those terrible
and rebellious people.
6My enemies return at evening,
growling like dogs
roaming the city.
7They curse and their words
cut like swords,
as they say to themselves,
“No one can hear us!”
8You, LORD, laugh at them
and sneer at the nations.
9You are my mighty fortress,
and I depend on you.
10You love me and will let me
see my enemies defeated.
11Don't kill them,
or everyone may forget!
Just use your mighty power
to make them tremble
and fall.
You are a shield
for your people.
12My enemies are liars!
So let them be trapped
by their boastful lies.
13Get angry and destroy them.
Leave them in ruin.
Then all the nations will know
that you rule in Israel.
14Those liars return at evening,
growling like dogs
roaming the city.
15They search for scraps of food,
and they snarl
until they are full.
16But I will sing about
your strength, my God,
and I will celebrate
because of your love.
You are my fortress,
my place of protection
in times of trouble.
17I will sing your praises!
You are my mighty fortress,
and you love me.
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© British and Foreign Bible Society 2012