Psalms 59
1 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.
For the chief musician; set to Al Tashheth. A psalm of David. A michtam; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him. Rescue me from my enemies, my God; set me on high away from those who rise up against me.
2 Take me out of the power of the workers of evil, and keep me safe from the men of blood.
Keep me safe from the workers of iniquity, and save me from the bloodthirsty men.
3 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.
For, see, they wait in ambush to take my life. The powerful men gather themselves together against me, but not because of my transgression or my sin, Yahweh.
4 For no sin of mine they go quickly and get themselves ready; be awake and come to my help, and see.
They prepare to run at me although I am without fault; awake and help me and see.
5 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)
You, Yahweh God of hosts, the God of Israel, arise and punish all the nations; do not be merciful to any wicked transgressors. (Selah)
6 They come back in the evening; they make a noise like a dog, and go round the town.
They return at evening, they howl like dogs and go around the city.
7 See, hate is dropping from their lips; curses are on their tongues: they say, Who gives attention to it?
See, they belch out with their mouths; swords are in their lips, for they say, “Who hears us?”
8 But you are laughing at them, O Lord; you will make sport of all the nations.
But you, Yahweh, laugh at them; you hold all the nations in derision.
9 O my strength, I will put my hope in you; because God is my strong tower.
God, my strength, I will pay attention to you; you are my high tower.
10 The God of my mercy will go before me: God will let me see my desire effected on my haters.
My God will meet me with his covenant faithfulness; God will let me see my desire on my enemies.
11 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.
Do not kill them, or my people will forget. Scatter them by your power and make them fall, Lord our shield.
12 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,
For the sins of their mouths and the words of their lips, let them be captured in their pride, and for the curses and lies that they express.
13 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)
Consume them in wrath, consume them so that they will be no more; let them know that God rules in Jacob and to the ends of the earth. (Selah)
14 And in the evening let them come back, and make a noise like a dog, and go round the town.
At evening they return, howling like dogs going around the city.
15 Let them go wandering up and down in search of food, and be there all night if they have not enough.
They wander about looking for food and they growl like a dog if they are not satisfied.
16 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.
But I will sing about your strength, and in the morning I will sing about your steadfast love! For you have been my high tower and a refuge in the day of my distress.
17 To you, O my strength, will I make my song: because God is my high tower, even the God of my mercy.
To you, my strength, I will sing praises; for God is my high tower, the God of covenant faithfulness.
