Psalms 59
1 For the end. Destroy not: by David for a memorial, when Saul sent, and watched his house to kill him. Deliver me from mine enemies, O God; and ransom me from those that rise up against me.
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.
2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men.
Deliver me from workers of iniquity, and save me from men of bloodshed.
3 For, behold, they have hunted after my soul; violent men have set upon me: neither [is it] my iniquity, nor my sin, O Lord.
See how they lie in wait for me. Fierce men conspire against me for no transgression or sin of my own, O LORD.
4 Without iniquity I ran and directed [my course aright]: awake to help me, and behold.
For no fault of my own, they move swiftly to attack me. Arise to help me, and take notice.
5 And you, Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, draw near to visit all the heathen; pity not any that work iniquity. (Pause)
O LORD God of Hosts, the God of Israel, rouse Yourself to punish all the nations; show no mercy to the wicked traitors.
6 They shall return at evening, and hunger like a dog, and go round about the city.
They return in the evening, snarling like dogs and prowling around the city.
7 Behold, they shall utter a voice with their mouth, and a sword is in their lips; for who, [say they], has heard?
See what they spew from their mouths— sharp words from their lips: “For who can hear us?”
8 But you, Lord, will laugh them to scorn; you will utterly set at nothing all the heathen.
But You, O LORD, laugh at them; You scoff at all the nations.
9 will keep my strength, [looking] to you; for you, O God, are my helper.
I will keep watch for You, O my strength, because You, O God, are my fortress.
10 [As for] my God, his mercy shall go before me: my God will show me [vengeance] on mine enemies.
My God of loving devotion will come to meet me; God will let me stare down my foes.
11 Slay them not, lest they forget your law; scatter them by your power; and bring them down, O Lord, my defender.
Do not kill them, or my people will forget. Scatter them by Your power, and bring them down, O Lord, our shield.
12 [For] the sin of their mouth, [and] the word of their lips, let them be even taken in their pride.
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.
13 And for [their] cursing and falsehood shall utter destruction be denounced: [they shall fall] by the wrath of utter destruction, and shall not be; so shall they know that the God of Jacob is Lord of the ends of the earth. (Pause)
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.
14 They shall return at evening, and be hungry as a dog, and go round about the city.
They return in the evening, snarling like dogs and prowling around the city.
15 They shall be scattered hither and there for meat; and if they be not satisfied, they shall even murmur.
They scavenge for food, and growl if they are not satisfied.
16 But I will sing to your strength, and in the morning will I exult [in] your mercy; for you have been my supporter, and my refuge in the day of mine affliction.
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.
17 [You are] my helper; to you, my God, will I sing; you are my supporter, O my God, [and] my mercy.
To You, O my strength, I sing praises, for You, O God, are my fortress, my God of loving devotion.
