Psalms 59
1 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.
“For the leader of the music. To the tune of “Do not destroy.” A psalm of David, when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him.” Deliver me from my enemies, O my God! Defend me from them that rise up against me!
2 Keep me safe from the workers of iniquity, and save me from the bloodthirsty men.
Deliver me from the doers of iniquity, And save me from men of blood!
3 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.
For, lo! they lie in wait for my life; The mighty are gathered against me, Without any offence or fault of mine, O LORD!
4 They prepare to run at me although I am without fault; awake and help me and see.
Without any offence of mine, they run and prepare themselves; Awake to help me, and behold!
5 You, Yahweh God of hosts, the God of Israel, arise and punish all the nations; do not be merciful to any wicked transgressors. (Selah)
Do thou, O Jehovah, God of hosts, God of Israel, Awake to punish all the nations! Show no mercy to any wicked transgressors! (Pause)
6 They return at evening, they howl like dogs and go around the city.
Let them return at evening, Let them howl like dogs, And go round about the city!
7 See, they belch out with their mouths; swords are in their lips, for they say, “Who hears us?”
Behold! with their mouths they belch out malice; Swords are upon their lips; “For who,” say they, “will hear?”
8 But you, Yahweh, laugh at them; you hold all the nations in derision.
Yet thou, O LORD! wilt laugh at them; Thou wilt hold all the nations in derision!
9 God, my strength, I will pay attention to you; you are my high tower.
O my Strength! to thee will I look! For God is my defence;
10 My God will meet me with his covenant faithfulness; God will let me see my desire on my enemies.
My God will come to meet me with his mercy; God will cause me to look with joy upon my enemies.
11 Do not kill them, or my people will forget. Scatter them by your power and make them fall, Lord our shield.
Slay them not, lest my people forget; Scatter them by thy power, and cast them down, O Lord, our shield!
12 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.
The word of their lips is the sin of their mouth; Let them be overtaken in their pride, For the curses and the falsehood which they utter!
13 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)
Consume them in thy wrath; consume them that they be no more, That they may know that God ruleth in Jacob, Even to the ends of the earth! (Pause)
14 At evening they return, howling like dogs going around the city.
Let them return at evening, Let them howl like dogs, And go round about the city!
15 They wander about looking for food and they growl like a dog if they are not satisfied.
Let them wander about for food, When they have passed the night unsatisfied!
16 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.
But I will sing of thy power; Yea, in the morning will I sing aloud of thy mercy; For thou hast been my defence, My refuge in the day of my distress.
17 To you, my strength, I will sing praises; for God is my high tower, the God of covenant faithfulness.
To thee, O my Strength! will I sing! For God is my defence; a God of mercy to me.
