Psalms 59 DBY
Summary: Headed "when Saul sent men to watch his house in order to kill him" (1 Samuel 19), Psalm 59 describes enemies who "howl like dogs and go around the city" at evening, prowling for food (v. 6, 14), a refrain repeated to frame the psalm. Amid this besieged domestic scene, the psalmist asks God not to kill his enemies outright but to "make them totter by your power" as a lasting lesson to his people (v. 11). It closes shifting the dog imagery into a vow: the psalmist himself will sing of God's strength every morning, "for you have been to me a fortress" (v. 16-17).
1To 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 myGod; secure me on high from them that rise up against me.
2Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from men of blood.
3For behold, they lie in wait for my soul; strong ones are gathered against me: not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O Jehovah.
4They run and prepare themselves without [my] fault: awake to meet me, and behold.
5Yea, do thou, Jehovah, theGod of hosts, theGod of Israel, arise to visit all the nations: be not gracious to any plotters of iniquity. Selah.
6They return in the evening; they howl like a dog, and go round about the city:
7Behold, they belch out with their mouth; swords are in their lips: for who [say they] doth hear?
8But thou, Jehovah, wilt laugh at them; thou wilt have all the nations in derision.
9Their strength!...I will take heed to thee; forGod is my high fortress.
10God, whose loving-kindness will come to meet me, —God shall let me see [my desire] upon mine enemies.
11Slay them not, lest my people forget; by thy power make them wander, and bring them down, O Lord, our shield.
12[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.
13Make an end in wrath, make an end, that they may be no more; that they may know thatGod ruleth in Jacob, unto the ends of the earth. Selah.
14And in the evening they shall return, they shall howl like a dog, and go round about the city.
15They shall wander about for meat, and stay all night if they be not satisfied.
16But 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.
17Unto thee, my strength, will I sing psalms; forGod is my high fortress, theGod of my mercy.
Also read this chapter in: KJV, WEB, ASV, WYC, GNV, WBT, YLT