Psalm 59

Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies.

For the choir director; set to Al-tashheth. A Mikhtam of David, when Saul sent men and they watched the house in order to kill him.

1 Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;
Set me securely on high away from those who rise up against me.

2 Deliver me from those who do iniquity
And save me from men of bloodshed.

3 For behold, they have set an ambush for my life;
Fierce men tlaunch an attack against me,
Not for my transgression nor for my sin, O LORD,

4 For no guilt of mine, they run and set themselves against me.
Arouse Yourself to help me, and see!

5 You, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel,
Awake to punish all the nations;
Do not be gracious to any who are treacherous in iniquity. Selah.

6 They return at evening, they howl like a dog,
And go around the city.

7 Behold, they belch forth with their mouth;
Swords are in their lips,
For, they say, "Who hears?"

8 But You, O LORD, laugh at them;
You scoff at all the nations.

9  Because of this strength I will watch for You,
For God is my stronghold.

10 My God in His lovingkindness will meet me;
God will let me look triumphantly upon my foes.

11 Do not slay them, or my people will forget;
Scatter them by Your power, and bring them down,
O Lord, our shield.

12  On account of the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips,
Let them even be caught in their pride,
And on account of curses and lies which they utter.

13 tDestroy them in wrath, destroy them that they may be no more;
That men may know that God rules in Jacob
To the ends of the earth. Selah.

14 They return at evening, they howl like a dog,
And go around the city.

15 They wander about tfor food
And growl if they are not satisfied.

16 But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength;
Yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning,
For You have been my stronghold
And a refuge in the day of my distress.

17 O my strength, I will sing praises to You;
For God is my stronghold, the God who shows me lovingkindness.

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.