Psalm 59

1-2 My God! Rescue me from my enemies, defend me from these mutineers. Rescue me from their dirty tricks, save me from their hit men.
3-4 Desperadoes have ganged up on me, they're hiding in ambush for me. I did nothing to deserve this, God, crossed no one, wronged no one. All the same, they're after me, determined to get me.
5 Wake up and see for yourself! You're God, God-of-Angel-Armies, Israel's God! Get on the job and take care of these pagans, don't be soft on these hard cases.
6-7 They return when the sun goes down, They howl like coyotes, ringing the city. Then suddenly they're all at the gate, Snarling invective, drawn daggers in their teeth. They think they'll never get caught.
8-10 But you, God, break out laughing; you treat the godless nations like jokes. Strong God, I'm watching you do it, I can always count on you. God in dependable love shows up on time, shows me my enemies in ruin.
11-13 Don't make quick work of them, God, lest my people forget. Bring them down in slow motion, take them apart piece by piece. Let all their mean-mouthed arrogance catch up with them, Catch them out and bring them down —every muttered curse —every barefaced lie. Finish them off in fine style! Finish them off for good! Then all the world will see that God rules well in Jacob, everywhere that God's in charge.
14-15 They return when the sun goes down, They howl like coyotes, ringing the city. They scavenge for bones, And bite the hand that feeds them.
16-17 And me? I'm singing your prowess, shouting at cockcrow your largesse, For you've been a safe place for me, a good place to hide. Strong God, I'm watching you do it, I can always count on you— God, my dependable love. A David Psalm, When He Fought Against Aram-naharaim and Aram-zobah and Joab Killed Twelve Thousand Edomites at the Valley of Salt

Psalm 59

For the music director; according to the al-tashcheth style; a prayer3 of David, written when Saul sent men to surround his house and murder him.4

1 Deliver me from my enemies, my God!
Protect me from those who attack me!

2 Deliver me from evildoers!
Rescue me from violent men!

3 For look, they wait to ambush me;
powerful men stalk me,
but not because I have rebelled or sinned, O Lord.

4 Though I have done nothing wrong, they are anxious to attack.
Spring into action and help me! Take notice of me!

5 You, O Lord God, the invincible warrior, the God of Israel,
rouse yourself and punish all the nations!
Have no mercy on any treacherous evildoers! (Selah)

6 They return in the evening;
they growl like a dog
and prowl around outside the city.

7 Look, they hurl insults at me
and openly threaten to kill me,
for they say,
“Who hears?”

8 But you, O Lord, laugh in disgust at them;
you taunt all the nations.

9 You are my source of strength! I will wait for you!
For God is my refuge.

10 The God who loves me will help me;
God will enable me to triumph over my enemies.

11 Do not strike them dead suddenly,
because then my people might forget the lesson.
Use your power to make them homeless vagabonds and then bring them down,
O Lord who shields us!

12 They speak sinful words.
So let them be trapped by their own pride
and by the curses and lies they speak!

13 Angrily wipe them out! Wipe them out so they vanish!
Let them know that God rules
in Jacob and to the ends of the earth! (Selah)

14 They return in the evening;
they growl like a dog
and prowl around outside the city.

15 They wander around looking for something to eat;
they refuse to sleep until they are full.

16 As for me, I will sing about your strength;
I will praise your loyal love in the morning.
For you are my refuge
and my place of shelter when I face trouble.

17 You are my source of strength! I will sing praises to you!
For God is my refuge, the God who loves me.