Psalms 59
1 For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David, when Saul sent men to watch David’s house in order to kill him. Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise against me.
To the chief music-maker; put to At-tashheth. Michtam. Of David. When Saul sent, and they were watching the house, to put him to death. Take me out of the hands of the cruel ones, O my God; keep me safe from those who come up against me.
2 Deliver me from workers of iniquity, and save me from men of bloodshed.
Take me out of the power of the workers of evil, and keep me safe from the men of blood.
3 See how they lie in wait for me. Fierce men conspire against me for no transgression or sin of my own, O LORD.
For see, they are watching in secret for my soul; the strong have come together against me? but not because of my sin, or my evil-doing, O Lord.
4 For no fault of my own, they move swiftly to attack me. Arise to help me, and take notice.
For no sin of mine they go quickly and get themselves ready; be awake and come to my help, and see.
5 O LORD God of Hosts, the God of Israel, rouse Yourself to punish all the nations; show no mercy to the wicked traitors.
You, O Lord God of armies, are the God of Israel; come now and give punishment to the nations; have no mercy on any workers of deceit. (Selah)
6 They return in the evening, snarling like dogs and prowling around the city.
They come back in the evening; they make a noise like a dog, and go round the town.
7 See what they spew from their mouths— sharp words from their lips: “For who can hear us?”
See, hate is dropping from their lips; curses are on their tongues: they say, Who gives attention to it?
8 But You, O LORD, laugh at them; You scoff at all the nations.
But you are laughing at them, O Lord; you will make sport of all the nations.
9 I will keep watch for You, O my strength, because You, O God, are my fortress.
O my strength, I will put my hope in you; because God is my strong tower.
10 My God of loving devotion will come to meet me; God will let me stare down my foes.
The God of my mercy will go before me: God will let me see my desire effected on my haters.
11 Do not kill them, or my people will forget. Scatter them by Your power, and bring them down, O Lord, our shield.
Put them not to death, for so my people will keep the memory of them: let them be sent in all directions by your power; make them low, O Lord our saviour.
12 By the sins of their mouths and the words of their lips, let them be trapped in their pride, in the curses and lies they utter.
Because of the sin of their mouths and the word of their lips, let them even be taken in their pride; and for their curses and their deceit,
13 Consume them in wrath; consume them till they are no more, so it may be known to the ends of the earth that God rules over Jacob.
Put an end to them in your wrath, put an end to them, so that they may not be seen again; let them see that God is ruling in Jacob and to the ends of the earth. (Selah)
14 They return in the evening, snarling like dogs and prowling around the city.
And in the evening let them come back, and make a noise like a dog, and go round the town.
15 They scavenge for food, and growl if they are not satisfied.
Let them go wandering up and down in search of food, and be there all night if they have not enough.
16 But I will sing of Your strength and proclaim Your loving devotion in the morning. For You are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.
But I will make songs of your power; yes, I will give cries of joy for your mercy in the morning; because you have been my strength and my high tower in the day of my trouble.
17 To You, O my strength, I sing praises, for You, O God, are my fortress, my God of loving devotion.
To you, O my strength, will I make my song: because God is my high tower, even the God of my mercy.
