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!
Deliver me from my enemies, my God. Set me on high from those who rise up against me.
2 Rescue me from these evil people! Save me from these murderers!
Deliver me from the workers of iniquity. Save me from the bloodthirsty 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 lie in wait for my soul. The mighty gather themselves together against me, not for my disobedience, nor for my sin, Adonai.
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.
I have done no wrong, yet they are ready to attack me. Rise up, behold, and help me!
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, 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 wicked traitors. (Selah) ·contemplation with musical interlude·.
6 In the evening they return, snarling like dogs as they roam around the city.
They teshuvah ·completely return· at evening, howling like dogs, and prowl around 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 spew with their mouth. Swords are in their lips, “For,” they say, “who sh'ma ·hears obeys· us?”
8 But you, Lord, you laugh at them; you pour scorn on all the nations.
But you, Adonai, laugh at them. You scoff at all the nations.
9 You are my strength! I will look to you, God, for you are the one who protects me.
Oh, my Strength, I watch for you, for God is my high tower.
10 In his trustworthy love, God will come and save me. He will show me how my enemies are defeated.
My God will go before me with his cheshed ·loving-kindness·. God will let me look at my enemies in triumph.
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.
Don’t kill them, or my people may forget. Scatter them by your power, and bring them down, Lord our shield.
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 words of their lips, let them be caught in their pride, for the curses and lies which they utter.
13 Destroy them in your anger! Destroy them completely! Then everyone will know that God rules in Israel!
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·.
14 In the evening they return, snarling like dogs as they roam around the city.
At evening let them teshuvah ·completely return·. Let them howl like a dog, and go around the city.
15 They wander around, looking for things to eat, and howl when they're not satisfied.
They shall wander up and down for food, and wait all night if they are not satisfied.
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 of your strength. Yes, I will sing aloud of your cheshed ·loving-kindness· in the morning. For you have been my high tower, a refuge in the day of my distress.
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, my strength, I will sing zahmar ·musical praise·. For God is my high tower, the God of my cheshed ·loving-kindness·.
