< Psalms 59 >
1 Deliver me from my enemies, my God. Set me on high from those who rise up against me.
“To the chief musician, Al-tashcheth, by David, a Michtham, when Saul sent, and they watched the house to put him to death.” Deliver me from my enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.
2 Deliver me from the workers of vain striving of iniquity. Save me from the bloodthirsty men.
Deliver me from the workers of wickedness, and from men of blood do thou save me.
3 For, behold, they lie in wait for my soul. The mighty gather themselves together against me, not for my rebellious breach of relationship, nor for my habitual sin ·missing the mark·, Adonai.
For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul, the mighty are gathered in troops against me: not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O Lord.
4 I have done no depravities (moral evils), yet they are ready to attack me. Rise up, behold, and help me!
Without guilt [in me] they run and make themselves ready: awake, [come] toward me, and behold.
5 You, Adonai Elohei Tzva'ot [Yahweh God Commander of heaven’s armies], the God of Israel [God prevails], rouse yourself to punish the nations. Show no mercy to the vain striving of iniquity traitors. (Selah) ·contemplation with musical interlude·.
And thou, O Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to punish all the nations: be not gracious to any treacherous wicked one. (Selah)
6 They teshuvah ·completely return· at evening, howling like dogs, and prowl around the city.
They will return at evening; they will howl like dogs, and go round about the city.
7 Behold, they spew with their mouth. Swords are in their lips, “For,” they say, “who sh'ma ·hears obeys· us?”
Behold, they sputter with their mouth: swords are in their lips; for who, [say they, ] doth hear?
8 But you, Adonai, laugh at them. You scoff at all the nations.
But thou, O Lord, wilt laugh at theme: thou wilt hold in derision all the nations.
9 Oh, my Strength, I watch for you, for God is my high tower.
Because of [the enemy's] strength will I wait upon thee; for God is my defence.
10 My God will go before me with his chesed ·loving-kindness·. God will let me look at my enemies in triumph.
The God who showeth me kindness will go before me: God will let me see [my desire] upon those who regard me with envy.
11 Don’t kill them, or my people may forget. Scatter them by your power, and bring them down, Lord our shield.
Slay them not, that my people may not forget: drive them about by thy power; and bring them down, thou our shield, O Lord.
12 For the habitual sin ·missing the mark· of their mouth, and the words of their lips, let them be caught in their pride, for the curses and lies which they utter.
The sin of their mouth is the word of their lips: let them be caught through their pride, because of the cursing and lying which they relate.
13 Consume them in wrath. Consume them, and they will be no more. Let them know that God rules in Jacob [Supplanter], to the ends of the earth. (Selah) ·contemplation with musical interlude·.
Make an end in fury, make an end [of them], that they my be no more, and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob, as far as the ends of the earth. (Selah)
14 At evening let them teshuvah ·completely return·. Let them howl like a dog, and go around the city.
And they will return in the evening; they will howl like dogs, and go round about the city.
15 They shall wander up and down for food, and wait all night if they are not satisfied.
They will indeed roam about after something to eat, if they be not satisfied, so that they can be at rest.
16 But I will sing of your strength. Yes, I will sing aloud of your chesed ·loving-kindness· in the morning. For you have been my high tower, a refuge in the day of my distress.
But I will truly sing of thy strength; yea, I will sing joyfully in the morning of thy kindness; for thou hast been a defence unto me and a refuge on the day when I was distressed.
17 To you, my strength, I will sing zahmar ·musical praise·. For God is my high tower, the God of my chesed ·loving-kindness·.
Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing; for God is my defence, the God of my kindness.