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Psalm 59
1599 Geneva Bible
Psalm 59
1599 Geneva Bible
59 1 David being in great danger of Saul, who sent to slay him in his bed, prayeth unto God, 3 Declaring his innocency, and their fury, 5 Desiring God to destroy all those that sin of malicious wickedness. 11 Whom though he keep alive for a time to exercise his people, yet in the end he will consume them in his wrath, 13 That he may be known to be the God of Jacob to the end of the world. 16 For this he singeth praises to God assured of his mercies.
To him that excelleth. Destroy not. A Psalm of David, on [a]Michtam. (A)When Saul sent and they did watch the house to kill him.
1 O my God, [b]deliver me from mine enemies; defend me from them that rise up against me.
2 Deliver me from the wicked doers, and save me from the bloody men.
3 For lo, they have laid wait for my soul; the mighty men are gathered against me, not for mine [c]offense, nor for my sin, O Lord.
4 They run and prepare themselves without a fault on my part: arise therefore to assist me, and behold.
5 Even thou, O Lord God of hosts, O God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen, and be not [d]merciful unto all that transgress maliciously. Selah.
6 They go to and fro in the evening: they bark like [e]dogs, and go about the city.
7 Behold, they [f]brag in their talk, and swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?
8 But thou, O Lord, shalt have them in derision, and thou shalt laugh at all the heathen.
9 [g]He is strong: but I will wait upon thee: for God is my defense.
10 My merciful God will [h]prevent me: God will let me see my desire upon mine enemies.
11 Slay them [i]not, lest my people forget it: but scatter them abroad by thy power, and put them down, O Lord, our shield,
12 For the sin of their mouth, and the words of their lips: and let them be [j]taken in their pride, even for their perjury and lies, that they speak.
13 [k]Consume them in thy wrath: consume them that they be no more: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob, even unto the ends of the world. Selah.
14 And in the evening they [l]shall go to and fro, and bark like dogs, and go about the city.
15 They shall run here and there for meat, and surely they shall not be satisfied, though they tarry all night.
16 But I will sing of thy [m]power, and will praise thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble.
17 Unto thee, O my [n]Strength will I sing: for God is my defense, and my merciful God.
Footnotes
- Psalm 59:1 Read Ps. 16.
- Psalm 59:1 Though his enemies were even at hand to destroy him, yet he assureth himself that God had ways now in hand to deliver him.
- Psalm 59:3 For I am innocent to themwards, and have not offended them.
- Psalm 59:5 Seeing it appertaineth to God’s judgments to punish the wicked, he desiresth God to execute his vengeance on the reprobate, who maliciously persecute his Church.
- Psalm 59:6 He compareth their cruelty to hungry dogs, showing that they are never weary in doing evil.
- Psalm 59:7 They boast openly in their wicked devices, and every word is as a sword: for they neither fear God nor are ashamed of men.
- Psalm 59:9 Though Saul have never so great power, yet I know that thou dost bridle him: therefore will I patiently hope on thee.
- Psalm 59:10 He will not fail to succor me when need requireth.
- Psalm 59:11 Altogether, but by little and little, that the people seeing oftentimes thy judgments, may be mindful of thee.
- Psalm 59:12 That in their misery and shame they may be as glasses and examples of God’s vengeance.
- Psalm 59:13 When thy time shall come, and when they have sufficiently served for an example of thy vengeance unto others.
- Psalm 59:14 He mocketh at their vain enterprises, being assured that they shall not bring their purpose to pass.
- Psalm 59:16 Which didst use the policy of a weak woman to confound the enemy’s strength, as 1 Sam. 19:12.
- Psalm 59:17 Confessing himself to be void of all virtue and strength, he attributeth the whole to God.
Psalm 59
New International Version
Psalm 59
New International Version
Psalm 59[a]
For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.[b] When Saul had sent men to watch David’s house(A) in order to kill him.
1 Deliver me from my enemies, O God;(B)
be my fortress against those who are attacking me.(C)
2 Deliver me from evildoers(D)
and save me from those who are after my blood.(E)
3 See how they lie in wait for me!
Fierce men conspire(F) against me
for no offense or sin of mine, Lord.
4 I have done no wrong,(G) yet they are ready to attack me.(H)
Arise to help me; look on my plight!(I)
5 You, Lord God Almighty,
you who are the God of Israel,(J)
rouse yourself(K) to punish all the nations;(L)
show no mercy to wicked traitors.[c](M)
6 They return at evening,
snarling like dogs,(N)
and prowl about the city.
7 See what they spew from their mouths(O)—
the words from their lips are sharp as swords,(P)
and they think, “Who can hear us?”(Q)
8 But you laugh at them, Lord;(R)
you scoff at all those nations.(S)
9 You are my strength,(T) I watch for you;
you, God, are my fortress,(U)
10 my God on whom I can rely.
God will go before me
and will let me gloat over those who slander me.
11 But do not kill them, Lord our shield,[d](V)
or my people will forget.(W)
In your might uproot them
and bring them down.(X)
12 For the sins of their mouths,(Y)
for the words of their lips,(Z)
let them be caught in their pride.(AA)
For the curses and lies they utter,
13 consume them in your wrath,
consume them till they are no more.(AB)
Then it will be known to the ends of the earth
that God rules over Jacob.(AC)
14 They return at evening,
snarling like dogs,
and prowl about the city.
15 They wander about for food(AD)
and howl if not satisfied.
16 But I will sing(AE) of your strength,(AF)
in the morning(AG) I will sing of your love;(AH)
for you are my fortress,(AI)
my refuge in times of trouble.(AJ)
17 You are my strength, I sing praise to you;
you, God, are my fortress,
my God on whom I can rely.(AK)
Footnotes
- Psalm 59:1 In Hebrew texts 59:1-17 is numbered 59:2-18.
- Psalm 59:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 59:5 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 13.
- Psalm 59:11 Or sovereign
Psalm 59
International Standard Version
Psalm 59
International Standard Version
To the Director: A special Davidic psalm[a] to the tune of[b] “Do Not Destroy,” when Saul sent men to watch the house in order to kill him.
A Prayer for Deliverance and Justice
59 Save me from my enemies, my God!
Keep me safe from those who rise up against me.
2 Save me from those who practice evil;
deliver me from bloodthirsty men.
3 Look, they lie in ambush for my life;
these violent men gather together against me,
but not because of any transgression or sin of mine, Lord.
4 Without any fault on my part,
they rush together and prepare themselves.
Get up!
Come help me!
Pay attention!
5 You, Lord God of the Heavenly Armies, God of Israel,
stir yourself up to punish all the nations.
Show no mercy to those wicked transgressors.
6 At night they return like howling dogs;
they prowl around the city.
7 Look what pours out of their mouths!
They use their lips like swords,
saying[c] “Who will hear us?”
8 But you, Lord, will laugh at them;
you will mock all the nations.
9 My Strength, I will watch for you,
for God is my fortress.
10 My God of Gracious Love will meet me;
God will enable me to see what happens[d] to my enemies.
11 Don’t kill them!
Otherwise, my people may forget.
By your power make them stumble around;
bring them down low,
Lord, our Shield.
12 The sin of their mouth is the word on their lips.
They will be caught in their own conceit;
for they speak curses and lies.
13 Go ahead and destroy them in anger!
Wipe them out,
and they will know to the ends of the earth
that God rules over Jacob.[e]
14 At night they return like howling dogs;
they prowl around the city.
15 They scavenge for food.
If they find nothing,
they become hungry and growl.
16 But I will sing of your power
and in the morning I will shout for joy about your gracious love.
For you have been a fortress for me;
and a refuge when I am distressed.[f]
17 My Strength, I will sing praises to you,
for you, God of Gracious Love, are my fortress.
Footnotes
- Psalm 59:1 The Heb. reads miktam
- Psalm 59:1 Lit. David according to
- Psalm 59:7 The Heb. lacks saying
- Psalm 59:10 The Heb. lacks what happens
- Psalm 59:13 Or know that God rules over Jacob to the ends of the earth
- Psalm 59:16 Lit. refuge in the day of my distress
Psalm 59
King James Version
Psalm 59
King James Version
59 Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.
2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men.
3 For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O Lord.
4 They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold.
5 Thou therefore, O Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.
6 They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
7 Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?
8 But thou, O Lord, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.
9 Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.
10 The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.
11 Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield.
12 For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.
13 Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah.
14 And at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
15 Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied.
16 But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.
17 Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.
Psalm 59
New King James Version
Psalm 59
New King James Version
The Assured Judgment of the Wicked
To the Chief Musician. Set to [a]“Do Not Destroy.” A Michtam of David (A)when Saul sent men, and they watched the house in order to kill him.
59 Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;
[b]Defend me from those who rise up against me.
2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity,
And save me from bloodthirsty men.
3 For look, they lie in wait for my life;
(B)The mighty gather against me,
Not for my transgression nor for my sin, O Lord.
4 They run and prepare themselves through no fault of mine.
(C)Awake to help me, and behold!
5 You therefore, O Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel,
Awake to punish all the [c]nations;
Do not be merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah
6 (D)At evening they return,
They growl like a dog,
And go all around the city.
7 Indeed, they belch with their mouth;
(E)Swords are in their lips;
For they say, (F)“Who hears?”
8 But (G)You, O Lord, shall laugh at them;
You shall have all the [d]nations in derision.
9 I will wait for You, O You [e]his Strength;
(H)For God is my [f]defense.
10 [g]My God of mercy shall (I)come to meet me;
God shall let (J)me see my desire on my enemies.
11 Do not slay them, lest my people forget;
Scatter them by Your power,
And bring them down,
O Lord our shield.
12 (K)For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips,
Let them even be taken in their pride,
And for the cursing and lying which they speak.
13 (L)Consume them in wrath, consume them,
That they may not be;
And (M)let them know that God rules in Jacob
To the ends of the earth. Selah
14 And (N)at evening they return,
They growl like a dog,
And go all around the city.
15 They (O)wander up and down for food,
And [h]howl if they are not satisfied.
16 But I will sing of Your power;
Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning;
For You have been my defense
And refuge in the day of my trouble.
17 To You, (P)O my Strength, I will sing praises;
For God is my defense,
My God of mercy.
Footnotes
- Psalm 59:1 Heb. Al Tashcheth
- Psalm 59:1 Lit. Set me on high
- Psalm 59:5 Gentiles
- Psalm 59:8 Gentiles
- Psalm 59:9 So with MT, Syr.; some Heb. mss., LXX, Tg., Vg. my Strength
- Psalm 59:9 Lit. fortress
- Psalm 59:10 So with Qr.; some Heb. mss., LXX, Vg. My God, His mercy; Kt., some Heb. mss., Tg. O God, my mercy; Syr. O God, Your mercy
- Psalm 59:15 So with LXX, Vg.; MT, Syr., Tg. spend the night
1599 Geneva Bible (GNV) 
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
International Standard Version (ISV) 
Copyright © 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission of Davidson Press, LLC.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.