Psalm 59

A Prayer for Protection

1 God, save me from my enemies. Protect me from those who come against me.

2 Save me from those who do evil and from murderers.

3 Look, they are waiting to ambush me. Cruel people attack me, but I have not sinned or done wrong, Lord.

4 I have done nothing wrong, but they are ready to attack me. Wake up to help me, and look.

5 You are the Lord God All-Powerful, the God of Israel. Arise and punish those people. Do not give those traitors any mercy. Selah

6 They come back at night. Like dogs they growl and roam around the city.

7 Notice what comes from their mouths. Insults come from their lips, because they say, “Who’s listening?”

8 But, Lord, you laugh at them; you make fun of all of them.

9 God, my strength, I am looking to you, because God is my defender.

10 My God loves me, and he goes in front of me. He will help me defeat my enemies.

11 Lord, our protector, do not kill them, or my people will forget. With your power scatter them and defeat them.

12 They sin by what they say; they sin with their words.
They curse and tell lies, so let their pride trap them.

13 Destroy them in your anger; destroy them completely!
Then they will know that God rules over Israel and to the ends of the earth. Selah

14 They come back at night. Like dogs they growl and roam around the city.

15 They wander about looking for food, and they howl if they do not find enough.

16 But I will sing about your strength. In the morning I will sing about your love.
You are my defender, my place of safety in times of trouble.
17 God, my strength, I will sing praises to you. God, my defender, you are the God who loves me.

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.