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!
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.
2 Rescue me from these evil people! Save me from these murderers!
Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men.
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, behold, they have hunted after my soul; violent men have set upon me: neither [is it] my iniquity, nor my sin, 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.
Without iniquity I ran and directed [my course aright]: awake to help me, and behold.
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)
And you, Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, draw near to visit all the heathen; pity not any that work iniquity. (Pause)
6 In the evening they return, snarling like dogs as they roam around the city.
They shall return at evening, and hunger like a dog, and go round about the city.
7 See what evil talk comes pouring out of their mouths! Words sharp as swords, for they say to themselves, “Who can hear us?”
Behold, they shall utter a voice with their mouth, and a sword is in their lips; for who, [say they], has heard?
8 But you, Lord, you laugh at them; you pour scorn on all the nations.
But you, Lord, will laugh them to scorn; you will utterly set at nothing all the heathen.
9 You are my strength! I will look to you, God, for you are the one who protects me.
will keep my strength, [looking] to you; for you, O God, are my helper.
10 In his trustworthy love, God will come and save me. He will show me how my enemies are defeated.
[As for] my God, his mercy shall go before me: my God will show me [vengeance] on mine enemies.
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.
Slay them not, lest they forget your law; scatter them by your power; and bring them down, O Lord, my defender.
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!
[For] the sin of their mouth, [and] the word of their lips, let them be even taken in their pride.
13 Destroy them in your anger! Destroy them completely! Then everyone will know that God rules in Israel!
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)
14 In the evening they return, snarling like dogs as they roam around the city.
They shall return at evening, and be hungry as a dog, and go round about the city.
15 They wander around, looking for things to eat, and howl when they're not satisfied.
They shall be scattered hither and there for meat; and if they be not satisfied, they shall even murmur.
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 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.
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!
[You are] my helper; to you, my God, will I sing; you are my supporter, O my God, [and] my mercy.
