Psalms 59
59
A Prayer for Protection
For the music director, according to Do Not Destroy.
Of David. A miktam.
When Saul dispatched men and they watched the house to kill him.#The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm; the English verse number is reduced by one
1Deliver me from my enemies, O my God.
Protect#The sense is that of making something inaccessibly high, like a fortress me from those who rise up against me.
2Deliver me from workers of iniquity,
and from men of bloodshed save me.
3For look, they lie in wait for my life.#Hebrew “soul”
The mighty attack#Or “stir up strife” against me,
not because of my transgression or my sin, O Yahweh.
4Without guilt on my part they run and ready themselves.
Awake to meet me and see.
5And you, Yahweh, God of hosts, are the God of Israel.
Rouse yourself to punish all the nations.
Do not be gracious to any who treacherously plot evil. Selah
6They return at evening; they howl like dogs#Hebrew “dog”
while they prowl the city.
7Look, they pour out talk with their mouth.
Swords are on their lips,
for they say, “Who hears?”
8But you, O Yahweh, will laugh at them;
you will mock all the nations.
9O my strength,#Reading with a few Hebrew manuscripts and the LXX, Targum and v. 18 I will watch for you,
because you, O God, are my (high) stronghold.
10My#According to the reading tradition (Qere), some Hebrew manuscripts and the LXX God of loyal love will meet me;
God will cause me to look in triumph on my enemies.
11Do not kill them, lest my people forget.
Make them to wander by your power,
and bring them down, O Lord, our shield.
12By the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips,
even in their pride, let them be trapped,
and for the curses#Hebrew “curse” and lies#Hebrew “lie” they proclaim.
13Destroy in anger; destroy so they are no more,
so that they may know that God is ruling in Jacob
to the ends of the earth. Selah
14They return at evening; they howl like dogs#Hebrew “dog”
while they prowl the city.
15As for them, they wander for food.
If they are not satisfied, then they continue all night.#Or “then they growl”
16But as for me, I will sing of your strength,
and I will hail your loyal love in the morning,
because you have been my high stronghold
and a refuge in my time#Literally “day” of trouble.
17O my strength, to you I will give praise,
because God is my high stronghold,
my God of loyal love.
Currently Selected:
Psalms 59: LEB
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
2010 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software
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.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc