Psalms 59
1 For the music director. According to “Do Not Destroy.” A psalm (miktam) of David, concerning the time Saul sent out soldiers to watch David's house in order to kill him. Rescue me from my enemies, God! Protect me from those who are attacking 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 Rescue me from these evil people! Save me from these murderers!
Take me out of the power of the workers of evil, and keep me safe from the men of blood.
3 See how they're lying in wait to kill me! Powerful men are gathered against me, Lord, even though I have not sinned or done anything wrong.
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 Even though I'm not guilty they hurry to prepare an attack on me. Please stand up, come and help me, and see what's going on.
For no sin of mine they go quickly and get themselves ready; be awake and come to my help, and see.
5 You are God, the Lord Almighty, God of Israel. Stand up, and punish all the nations. Don't have any mercy on these evil traitors. (Selah)
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 In the evening they return, snarling like dogs as they roam around the city.
They come back in the evening; they make a noise like a dog, and go round the town.
7 See what evil talk comes pouring out of their mouths! Words sharp as swords, for they say to themselves, “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, Lord, you laugh at them; you pour scorn on all the nations.
But you are laughing at them, O Lord; you will make sport of all the nations.
9 You are my strength! I will look to you, God, for you are the one who protects me.
O my strength, I will put my hope in you; because God is my strong tower.
10 In his trustworthy love, God will come and save me. He will show me how my enemies are defeated.
The God of my mercy will go before me: God will let me see my desire effected on my haters.
11 Don't kill them right away, otherwise my people will quickly forget what you have done. By your power make them stagger around and then fall down, Lord our protection.
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 Let them be caught out by the evil things they say, the words they proudly speak—brought down by their curses and the lies they tell!
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 Destroy them in your anger! Destroy them completely! Then everyone will know that God rules in Israel!
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 In the evening they return, snarling like dogs as they roam 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 wander around, looking for things to eat, and howl when they're 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; in the morning I will sing for joy about your trustworthy love. For you have been my protection; my place of safety in my time 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 You are my strength, I sing praises to you, for you are the one who protects me—the God who shows me his trustworthy love!
To you, O my strength, will I make my song: because God is my high tower, even the God of my mercy.
