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.
“For the leader of the music. To the tune of “Do not destroy.” A psalm of David, when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him.” Deliver me from my enemies, O my God! Defend me from them that rise up against me!
2 Deliver me from workers of iniquity, and save me from men of bloodshed.
Deliver me from the doers of iniquity, And save me from 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, lo! they lie in wait for my life; The mighty are gathered against me, Without any offence or fault of mine, O LORD!
4 For no fault of my own, they move swiftly to attack me. Arise to help me, and take notice.
Without any offence of mine, they run and prepare themselves; Awake to help me, and behold!
5 O LORD God of Hosts, the God of Israel, rouse Yourself to punish all the nations; show no mercy to the wicked traitors.
Do thou, O Jehovah, God of hosts, God of Israel, Awake to punish all the nations! Show no mercy to any wicked transgressors! (Pause)
6 They return in the evening, snarling like dogs and prowling around the city.
Let them return at evening, Let them howl like dogs, And go round about the city!
7 See what they spew from their mouths— sharp words from their lips: “For who can hear us?”
Behold! with their mouths they belch out malice; Swords are upon their lips; “For who,” say they, “will hear?”
8 But You, O LORD, laugh at them; You scoff at all the nations.
Yet thou, O LORD! wilt laugh at them; Thou wilt hold all the nations in derision!
9 I will keep watch for You, O my strength, because You, O God, are my fortress.
O my Strength! to thee will I look! For God is my defence;
10 My God of loving devotion will come to meet me; God will let me stare down my foes.
My God will come to meet me with his mercy; God will cause me to look with joy upon my enemies.
11 Do not kill them, or my people will forget. Scatter them by Your power, and bring them down, O Lord, our shield.
Slay them not, lest my people forget; Scatter them by thy power, and cast them down, O Lord, our shield!
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.
The word of their lips is the sin of their mouth; Let them be overtaken in their pride, For the curses and the falsehood which they utter!
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.
Consume them in thy wrath; consume them that they be no more, That they may know that God ruleth in Jacob, Even to the ends of the earth! (Pause)
14 They return in the evening, snarling like dogs and prowling around the city.
Let them return at evening, Let them howl like dogs, And go round about the city!
15 They scavenge for food, and growl if they are not satisfied.
Let them wander about for food, When they have passed the night unsatisfied!
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 sing of thy power; Yea, in the morning will I sing aloud of thy mercy; For thou hast been my defence, My refuge in the day of my distress.
17 To You, O my strength, I sing praises, for You, O God, are my fortress, my God of loving devotion.
To thee, O my Strength! will I sing! For God is my defence; a God of mercy to me.
