Psalms 59
1 God, save me from my enemies! Protect me from those who want to attack me!
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.
2 Rescue me from men who want to do what is wicked, men who are murderers!
Keep me safe from the workers of iniquity, and save me from the bloodthirsty men.
3 Look! They are waiting to kill me! Fierce men have gathered to assault me. Yahweh, they are doing that even though I have not done what is wrong!
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.
4 It is not because I have committed any sin [against them] that they run and get ready to attack me.
They prepare to run at me although I am without fault; awake and help me and see.
5 Yahweh my God, commander of the armies of heaven, the one we Israelis [worship], arise and punish the [ungodly/heathen people of] all the nations; do not be merciful to those [wicked people] who have (acted treacherously toward/secretly planned to harm) us.
You, Yahweh God of hosts, the God of Israel, arise and punish all the nations; do not be merciful to any wicked transgressors. (Selah)
6 They return each evening, snarling like vicious dogs [SIM] as they prowl around this city.
They return at evening, they howl like dogs and go around the city.
7 They loudly say terrible things; they say [MTY] many things that [injure people like] [MET] swords do, but they think, “No one will [RHQ] hear us!”
See, they belch out with their mouths; swords are in their lips, for they say, “Who hears us?”
8 But Yahweh, you laugh at them. You (scoff at/ridicule) the [people of the pagan] nations.
But you, Yahweh, laugh at them; you hold all the nations in derision.
9 God, I have confidence in you because you are very strong; you are my refuge.
God, my strength, I will pay attention to you; you are my high tower.
10 Because you love me, you will come to save me; you will allow me to watch while you defeat my enemies.
My God will meet me with his covenant faithfulness; God will let me see my desire on my enemies.
11 But do not kill them [immediately] in order that my people will not forget [how you punished them]! [Instead], Lord, [you who are like a] shield [that protects us] [MET], scatter them by your power, and [then] defeat them.
Do not kill them, or my people will forget. Scatter them by your power and make them fall, Lord our shield.
12 Because what they say [MTY] is sinful, allow them to be trapped for being proud. Because they are [always] cursing and telling lies,
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.
13 because you are angry, get rid of them; destroy them completely in order that people will know that you rule over us, your Israeli people, and that you rule over all the earth.
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)
14 My enemies return each evening, snarling like [vicious] dogs as they prowl around this city.
At evening they return, howling like dogs going around the city.
15 They roam around, searching for food; and if they do not find enough, they growl.
They wander about looking for food and they growl like a dog if they are not satisfied.
16 But [as for me], I will sing about your power; [every] morning I will sing joyfully about your faithfully loving [us]. I will sing about how you protected me when I was [very] distressed.
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.
17 God, you are the one who enables me to be strong; you are my refuge; you faithfully love me.
To you, my strength, I will sing praises; for God is my high tower, the God of covenant faithfulness.
