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 Musician. 'Destroy not.' Of David. Michtam; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him. Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God; secure me on high from them 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 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 behold, they lie in wait for my soul; strong ones are gathered against me: not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O Jehovah.
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.
They run and prepare themselves without [my] fault: awake to meet 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)
Yea, do thou, Jehovah, the God of hosts, the God of Israel, arise to visit all the nations: be not gracious to any plotters of iniquity. (Selah)
6 In the evening they return, snarling like dogs as they roam around the city.
They return in the evening; they howl 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 belch out with their mouth; swords are in their lips: for who [say they] doth hear?
8 But you, Lord, you laugh at them; you pour scorn on all the nations.
But thou, Jehovah, wilt laugh at them; thou wilt have all the nations in derision.
9 You are my strength! I will look to you, God, for you are the one who protects me.
Their strength! ...I will take heed to thee; for God is my high fortress.
10 In his trustworthy love, God will come and save me. He will show me how my enemies are defeated.
God, whose loving-kindness will come to meet me, — God shall let me see [my desire] upon 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 my people forget; by thy power make them wander, and bring them down, O 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!
[Because of] the sin of their mouth, the word of their lips, let them even be taken in their pride; and because of cursing and lying which they speak.
13 Destroy them in your anger! Destroy them completely! Then everyone will know that God rules in Israel!
Make an end in wrath, make an end, that they may be no more; that they may know that God ruleth in Jacob, unto 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 they shall return, they shall howl like 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 wander about for meat, and stay all night if they be 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 as for me, I will sing of thy strength; yea, I will sing aloud of thy loving-kindness in the morning; for thou hast been to me a high fortress, and a refuge 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!
Unto thee, my strength, will I sing psalms; for God is my high fortress, the God of my mercy.
