Message to Egypt

19 The (A)pronouncement concerning (B)Egypt:

Behold, the Lord is (C)riding on a swift cloud and is about to come to Egypt;
The (D)idols of Egypt will tremble at His presence,
And the (E)heart of the Egyptians will melt within them.
“So I will incite Egyptians against Egyptians;
And they will fight, (F)each against his brother and each against his neighbor,
City against city and kingdom against kingdom.
Then the spirit of the Egyptians will be demoralized within them;
And I will confuse their strategy,
So that (G)they will resort to idols and ghosts of the dead,
And to [a]mediums and spiritists.
Furthermore, I will hand the Egyptians over to a (H)cruel master,
And a [b]mighty king will rule over them,” declares the Lord [c]God of armies.

(I)The waters from the sea will dry up,
And the river will be parched and dry.
The [d](J)canals will emit a stench,
The [e](K)streams of Egypt will thin out and dry up;
(L)The reeds and rushes will rot away.
The bulrushes by the (M)Nile, by the [f]edge of the Nile
And all the sown fields by the Nile
Will become dry, be driven away, and be no more.
And the (N)fishermen will grieve,
And all those who cast a [g]line into the Nile will mourn,
And those who spread nets on the waters will dwindle away.
Moreover, the manufacturers of linen made from combed flax
And the weavers of white (O)cloth will be [h]utterly dejected.
10 And [i]the (P)pillars of Egypt will be crushed;
All the hired laborers will be grieved in soul.

11 The officials of [j](Q)Zoan are mere fools;
The advice of Pharaoh’s wisest advisers has become [k]stupid.
How can you say to Pharaoh,
“I am a son of the (R)wise, a son of ancient kings”?
12 Well then, where are your wise men?
Please let them tell you,
And let them [l]understand what the Lord of armies
Has (S)planned against Egypt.
13 The officials of [m]Zoan have turned out to be fools,
The officials of (T)Memphis are deluded;
Those who are the (U)cornerstone of her tribes
Have [n]led Egypt astray.
14 The Lord has mixed within her a spirit of (V)distortion;
(W)They have led Egypt astray in all [o]that it does,
As a (X)drunken person [p]staggers in his vomit.
15 There will be no work for Egypt
(Y)Which its head or tail, its palm branch or bulrush, may do.

16 On that day the Egyptians will become like women, and they will tremble and be in great (Z)fear because of the (AA)waving of the hand of the Lord of armies, which He is going to wave over them. 17 The land of Judah will become a cause of shame to Egypt; everyone to whom it is mentioned will be in great fear because of the (AB)plan of the Lord of armies which He is making against them.

18 On that day five cities in the land of Egypt will be speaking the language of Canaan and (AC)swearing allegiance to the Lord of armies; one will be called the City of [q]Destruction.

19 On that day there will be an (AD)altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a (AE)memorial stone to the Lord beside its border. 20 And it will become a sign and a witness to the Lord of armies in the land of Egypt; for they will cry out to the Lord because of oppressors, and He will send them a (AF)Savior and a (AG)Champion, and He will save them. 21 So the Lord will make Himself known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the Lord on that day. They will even worship with (AH)sacrifice and offering, and will make a vow to the Lord and perform it. 22 And the Lord will strike Egypt, striking but (AI)healing; so they will (AJ)return to the Lord, and He will respond to their pleas and heal them.

23 On that day there will be a (AK)road from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrians will come into Egypt and the Egyptians into Assyria; and the Egyptians will (AL)worship with the Assyrians.

24 On that day Israel will be the third party to Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, 25 whom the Lord of armies has blessed, saying, “Blessed is (AM)Egypt My people, and Assyria (AN)the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.”

Prophecy about Egypt and Ethiopia

20 In the year that the [r](AO)commander came to (AP)Ashdod, when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him and he fought against Ashdod and captured it, at that time the Lord spoke through (AQ)Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, “Go and loosen the (AR)sackcloth from your hips and take your (AS)sandals off your feet.” And he did so, going (AT)naked and barefoot. Then the Lord said, “Even as My servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot for three years as a (AU)sign and symbol against Egypt and [s](AV)Cush, so the (AW)king of Assyria will lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Cush, (AX)young and old, naked and barefoot with buttocks uncovered, to the [t]shame of Egypt. Then they will be (AY)terrified and ashamed because of Cush their hope and Egypt their (AZ)pride. So the inhabitants of this coastland will say on that day, ‘Behold, such is our hope, where we fled (BA)for help to be saved from the king of Assyria; and (BB)how are we ourselves to escape?’”

God Commands That Babylon Be Taken

21 The (BC)pronouncement concerning the [u](BD)wilderness of the sea:

As (BE)windstorms in the [v]Negev come in turns,
It comes from the wilderness, from a terrifying land.
A (BF)harsh vision has been shown to me;
The (BG)treacherous one still deals treacherously, and the destroyer still destroys.
Go up, (BH)Elam, lay siege, Media;
I have put an end to all [w]the groaning she has caused.
For this reason my (BI)loins are full of anguish;
Pains have seized me like the pains of a (BJ)woman in labor.
I am so bewildered I cannot hear, so terrified I cannot see.
My [x]mind reels, [y]horror overwhelms me;
The twilight I longed for has been (BK)turned into trembling for me.
They (BL)set the table, they [z]spread out the cloth, they eat, they drink;
“Rise up, captains, oil the shields!”

For this is what the Lord says to me:

“Go, station the lookout, have him (BM)report what he sees.
When he sees [aa]a (BN)column of chariots, horsemen in pairs,
A train of donkeys, a train of camels,
He is to pay close attention, very close attention.”

Then [ab]the lookout called,

(BO)Lord, I stand continually by day on the watchtower,
And I am stationed every night at my guard post.
Now behold, here comes a troop of riders, horsemen in pairs.”
And one said, “(BP)Fallen, fallen is Babylon;
And all the (BQ)images of her gods [ac]are shattered on the ground.”
10 My (BR)downtrodden people, and my [ad]afflicted of the threshing floor!
What I have heard from the Lord of armies,
The God of Israel, I make known to you.

Pronouncements about Edom and Arabia

11 The pronouncement concerning [ae](BS)Edom:

One keeps calling to me from (BT)Seir,
“Watchman, [af]how far gone is the night?
Watchman, [ag]how far gone is the night?”
12 The watchman says,
“Morning comes but also night.
If you would inquire, inquire;
Come back again.”

13 The pronouncement about (BU)Arabia:

In the thickets of Arabia you [ah]must spend the night,
You caravans of (BV)Dedanites.
14 Bring water [ai]for the thirsty,
You inhabitants of the land of (BW)Tema;
Meet the fugitive with bread.
15 For they have (BX)fled from the swords,
From the drawn sword, and from the bent bow,
And from the press of battle.

16 For this is what the Lord said to me: “In a (BY)year, as [aj]a hired worker would count it, all the splendor of (BZ)Kedar will come to an end; 17 and the (CA)remainder of the number of bowmen, the warriors of the sons of Kedar, will be few; for the Lord God of Israel (CB)has spoken.”

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 19:3 Or ghosts and spirits
  2. Isaiah 19:4 Or fierce
  3. Isaiah 19:4 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
  4. Isaiah 19:6 Lit rivers
  5. Isaiah 19:6 Or Nile branches; i.e., the delta
  6. Isaiah 19:7 Or mouth
  7. Isaiah 19:8 Lit hook
  8. Isaiah 19:9 Lit ashamed
  9. Isaiah 19:10 Lit her pillars; or her weavers
  10. Isaiah 19:11 Or Tanis
  11. Isaiah 19:11 Or brutish
  12. Isaiah 19:12 Or know
  13. Isaiah 19:13 Or Tanis
  14. Isaiah 19:13 Or have caused Egypt to stagger
  15. Isaiah 19:14 Lit its work
  16. Isaiah 19:14 Or goes astray
  17. Isaiah 19:18 Some mss and ancient versions the Sun
  18. Isaiah 20:1 Heb Tartan
  19. Isaiah 20:3 Or Ethiopia, as in vv 4, 5
  20. Isaiah 20:4 Lit nakedness
  21. Isaiah 21:1 Or sandy wastes, sea country
  22. Isaiah 21:1 I.e., South country
  23. Isaiah 21:2 Lit her groaning
  24. Isaiah 21:4 Lit heart has wandered
  25. Isaiah 21:4 Lit shuddering
  26. Isaiah 21:5 Or spread out the rugs or possibly they arranged the seating
  27. Isaiah 21:7 Or riders
  28. Isaiah 21:8 As in DSS; MT he called like a lion
  29. Isaiah 21:9 Lit he has shattered to the earth
  30. Isaiah 21:10 Lit son
  31. Isaiah 21:11 As in LXX; MT Dumah, silence
  32. Isaiah 21:11 Lit what is the time of the night?
  33. Isaiah 21:11 Lit what is the time of the night?
  34. Isaiah 21:13 Or will spend
  35. Isaiah 21:14 Lit to meet
  36. Isaiah 21:16 Lit the years of a hired

A Prophecy Against Egypt

19 A prophecy(A) against Egypt:(B)

See, the Lord rides on a swift cloud(C)
    and is coming to Egypt.
The idols of Egypt tremble before him,
    and the hearts of the Egyptians melt(D) with fear.

“I will stir up Egyptian against Egyptian—
    brother will fight against brother,(E)
    neighbor against neighbor,
    city against city,
    kingdom against kingdom.(F)
The Egyptians will lose heart,(G)
    and I will bring their plans(H) to nothing;(I)
they will consult the idols and the spirits of the dead,
    the mediums and the spiritists.(J)
I will hand the Egyptians over
    to the power of a cruel master,
and a fierce king(K) will rule over them,”
    declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.

The waters of the river will dry up,(L)
    and the riverbed will be parched and dry.(M)
The canals will stink;(N)
    the streams of Egypt will dwindle and dry up.(O)
The reeds(P) and rushes will wither,(Q)
    also the plants(R) along the Nile,
    at the mouth of the river.
Every sown field(S) along the Nile
    will become parched, will blow away and be no more.(T)
The fishermen(U) will groan and lament,
    all who cast hooks(V) into the Nile;
those who throw nets on the water
    will pine away.
Those who work with combed flax(W) will despair,
    the weavers of fine linen(X) will lose hope.
10 The workers in cloth will be dejected,
    and all the wage earners will be sick at heart.

11 The officials of Zoan(Y) are nothing but fools;
    the wise counselors(Z) of Pharaoh give senseless advice.(AA)
How can you say to Pharaoh,
    “I am one of the wise men,(AB)
    a disciple of the ancient kings”?

12 Where are your wise men(AC) now?
    Let them show you and make known
what the Lord Almighty
    has planned(AD) against Egypt.
13 The officials of Zoan(AE) have become fools,
    the leaders of Memphis(AF) are deceived;
the cornerstones(AG) of her peoples
    have led Egypt astray.
14 The Lord has poured into them
    a spirit of dizziness;(AH)
they make Egypt stagger in all that she does,
    as a drunkard staggers(AI) around in his vomit.
15 There is nothing Egypt can do—
    head or tail, palm branch or reed.(AJ)

16 In that day(AK) the Egyptians will become weaklings.(AL) They will shudder with fear(AM) at the uplifted hand(AN) that the Lord Almighty raises against them. 17 And the land of Judah will bring terror to the Egyptians; everyone to whom Judah is mentioned will be terrified,(AO) because of what the Lord Almighty is planning(AP) against them.

18 In that day(AQ) five cities(AR) in Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance(AS) to the Lord Almighty. One of them will be called the City of the Sun.[a](AT)

19 In that day(AU) there will be an altar(AV) to the Lord in the heart of Egypt,(AW) and a monument(AX) to the Lord at its border. 20 It will be a sign and witness(AY) to the Lord Almighty in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the Lord because of their oppressors, he will send them a savior(AZ) and defender, and he will rescue(BA) them. 21 So the Lord will make himself known to the Egyptians, and in that day they will acknowledge(BB) the Lord. They will worship(BC) with sacrifices and grain offerings; they will make vows to the Lord and keep them.(BD) 22 The Lord will strike(BE) Egypt with a plague;(BF) he will strike them and heal them. They will turn(BG) to the Lord, and he will respond to their pleas and heal(BH) them.

23 In that day(BI) there will be a highway(BJ) from Egypt to Assyria.(BK) The Assyrians will go to Egypt and the Egyptians to Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship(BL) together. 24 In that day(BM) Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria,(BN) a blessing[b](BO) on the earth. 25 The Lord Almighty will bless(BP) them, saying, “Blessed be Egypt my people,(BQ) Assyria my handiwork,(BR) and Israel my inheritance.(BS)

A Prophecy Against Egypt and Cush

20 In the year that the supreme commander,(BT) sent by Sargon king of Assyria, came to Ashdod(BU) and attacked and captured it— at that time the Lord spoke through Isaiah son of Amoz.(BV) He said to him, “Take off the sackcloth(BW) from your body and the sandals(BX) from your feet.” And he did so, going around stripped(BY) and barefoot.(BZ)

Then the Lord said, “Just as my servant(CA) Isaiah has gone stripped and barefoot for three years,(CB) as a sign(CC) and portent(CD) against Egypt(CE) and Cush,[c](CF) so the king(CG) of Assyria will lead away stripped(CH) and barefoot the Egyptian captives(CI) and Cushite(CJ) exiles, young and old, with buttocks bared(CK)—to Egypt’s shame.(CL) Those who trusted(CM) in Cush(CN) and boasted in Egypt(CO) will be dismayed and put to shame.(CP) In that day(CQ) the people who live on this coast will say, ‘See what has happened(CR) to those we relied on,(CS) those we fled to for help(CT) and deliverance from the king of Assyria! How then can we escape?(CU)’”

A Prophecy Against Babylon

21 A prophecy(CV) against the Desert(CW) by the Sea:

Like whirlwinds(CX) sweeping through the southland,(CY)
    an invader comes from the desert,
    from a land of terror.

A dire(CZ) vision has been shown to me:
    The traitor betrays,(DA) the looter takes loot.
Elam,(DB) attack! Media,(DC) lay siege!
    I will bring to an end all the groaning she caused.

At this my body is racked with pain,(DD)
    pangs seize me, like those of a woman in labor;(DE)
I am staggered by what I hear,
    I am bewildered(DF) by what I see.
My heart(DG) falters,
    fear makes me tremble;(DH)
the twilight I longed for
    has become a horror(DI) to me.

They set the tables,
    they spread the rugs,
    they eat, they drink!(DJ)
Get up, you officers,
    oil the shields!(DK)

This is what the Lord says to me:

“Go, post a lookout(DL)
    and have him report what he sees.
When he sees chariots(DM)
    with teams of horses,
riders on donkeys
    or riders on camels,(DN)
let him be alert,
    fully alert.”

And the lookout[d](DO) shouted,

“Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower;
    every night I stay at my post.
Look, here comes a man in a chariot(DP)
    with a team of horses.
And he gives back the answer:
    ‘Babylon(DQ) has fallen,(DR) has fallen!
All the images of its gods(DS)
    lie shattered(DT) on the ground!’”

10 My people who are crushed on the threshing floor,(DU)
    I tell you what I have heard
from the Lord Almighty,
    from the God of Israel.

A Prophecy Against Edom

11 A prophecy against Dumah[e]:(DV)

Someone calls to me from Seir,(DW)
    “Watchman, what is left of the night?
    Watchman, what is left of the night?”
12 The watchman replies,
    “Morning is coming, but also the night.
If you would ask, then ask;
    and come back yet again.”

A Prophecy Against Arabia

13 A prophecy(DX) against Arabia:(DY)

You caravans of Dedanites,(DZ)
    who camp in the thickets of Arabia,
14     bring water for the thirsty;
you who live in Tema,(EA)
    bring food for the fugitives.
15 They flee(EB) from the sword,(EC)
    from the drawn sword,
from the bent bow
    and from the heat of battle.

16 This is what the Lord says to me: “Within one year, as a servant bound by contract(ED) would count it, all the splendor(EE) of Kedar(EF) will come to an end. 17 The survivors of the archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be few.(EG)” The Lord, the God of Israel, has spoken.(EH)

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 19:18 Some manuscripts of the Masoretic Text, Dead Sea Scrolls, Symmachus and Vulgate; most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text City of Destruction
  2. Isaiah 19:24 Or Assyria, whose names will be used in blessings (see Gen. 48:20); or Assyria, who will be seen by others as blessed
  3. Isaiah 20:3 That is, the upper Nile region; also in verse 5
  4. Isaiah 21:8 Dead Sea Scrolls and Syriac; Masoretic Text A lion
  5. Isaiah 21:11 Dumah, a wordplay on Edom, means silence or stillness.

The Council at Jerusalem

Then after an interval of fourteen years I (A)went up again to Jerusalem with (B)Barnabas, taking (C)Titus along also. [a]It was because of a (D)revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the (E)gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that somehow I might be (F)running, or had run, in vain. But not even (G)Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was (H)compelled to be circumcised. Yet it was a concern because of the (I)false brothers secretly brought in, who (J)had sneaked in to spy on our (K)freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to (L)enslave us. But we did not yield in subjection to them, even for an hour, so that (M)the truth of the gospel would remain with you. But from those who [b]were of considerable (N)repute (what they were makes no difference to me; (O)God shows no favoritism)—well, those who were of repute contributed nothing to me. But on the contrary, seeing that I had been (P)entrusted with the (Q)gospel [c]to the uncircumcised, just as (R)Peter had been [d]to the circumcised (for He who was at work for Peter in his (S)apostleship [e]to the circumcised was at work for me also to the Gentiles), and recognizing (T)the grace that had been given to me, [f](U)James and [g](V)Cephas and John, who were (W)reputed to be (X)pillars, gave to me and (Y)Barnabas the (Z)right [h]hand of fellowship, so that we might (AA)go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised. 10 They only asked us to remember the poor—(AB)the very thing I also was eager to do.

Peter (Cephas) Opposed by Paul

11 But when (AC)Cephas came to (AD)Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he [i]stood condemned. 12 For prior to the coming of some men from [j](AE)James, he used to (AF)eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and separate himself, (AG)fearing those from the circumcision. 13 The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even (AH)Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they (AI)were not [k]straightforward about (AJ)the truth of the gospel, I said to (AK)Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, (AL)live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?[l]

15 “We are (AM)Jews by nature and not (AN)sinners from the Gentiles; 16 nevertheless, knowing that (AO)a person is not justified by works of [m]the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by (AP)faith in Christ and not by works of [n]the Law; since (AQ)by works of [o]the Law no [p]flesh will be justified.

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Footnotes

  1. Galatians 2:2 Lit according to revelation I went up
  2. Galatians 2:6 Lit reputed as being something
  3. Galatians 2:7 Lit of the uncircumcision; i.e., to Gentiles
  4. Galatians 2:7 Lit of the circumcision; i.e., to Jews
  5. Galatians 2:8 See note 2 v 7
  6. Galatians 2:9 Or Jacob
  7. Galatians 2:9 I.e., Peter
  8. Galatians 2:9 Lit hands
  9. Galatians 2:11 Or was to be condemned; lit was one who was condemned; or was self-condemned
  10. Galatians 2:12 Or Jacob
  11. Galatians 2:14 Or progressing toward; lit walking straightly
  12. Galatians 2:14 Some close the direct quotation here, others extend it through v 21
  13. Galatians 2:16 Or law
  14. Galatians 2:16 Or law
  15. Galatians 2:16 Or law
  16. Galatians 2:16 Or mortal man

Paul Accepted by the Apostles

Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem,(A) this time with Barnabas.(B) I took Titus(C) along also. I went in response to a revelation(D) and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles.(E) I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race(F) in vain. Yet not even Titus,(G) who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.(H) This matter arose because some false believers(I) had infiltrated our ranks to spy on(J) the freedom(K) we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel(L) might be preserved for you.

As for those who were held in high esteem(M)—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism(N)—they added nothing to my message.(O) On the contrary, they recognized that I had been entrusted with the task(P) of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised,[a](Q) just as Peter(R) had been to the circumcised.[b] For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle(S) to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle(T) to the Gentiles. James,(U) Cephas[c](V) and John, those esteemed as pillars,(W) gave me and Barnabas(X) the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me.(Y) They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles,(Z) and they to the circumcised. 10 All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor,(AA) the very thing I had been eager to do all along.

Paul Opposes Cephas

11 When Cephas(AB) came to Antioch,(AC) I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James,(AD) he used to eat with the Gentiles.(AE) But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group.(AF) 13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas(AG) was led astray.

14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel,(AH) I said to Cephas(AI) in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew.(AJ) How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?(AK)

15 “We who are Jews by birth(AL) and not sinful Gentiles(AM) 16 know that a person is not justified by the works of the law,(AN) but by faith in Jesus Christ.(AO) So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in[d] Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.(AP)

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Footnotes

  1. Galatians 2:7 That is, Gentiles
  2. Galatians 2:7 That is, Jews; also in verses 8 and 9
  3. Galatians 2:9 That is, Peter; also in verses 11 and 14
  4. Galatians 2:16 Or but through the faithfulness of … justified on the basis of the faithfulness of

Prayer for Rescue from Enemies.

For the music director; set to [a]Al-tashheth. A [b]Mikhtam of David, [c]when Saul sent men and they watched the house in order to kill him.

59 (A)Rescue me from my enemies, my God;
[d](B)Set me securely on high away from those who rise up against me.
Rescue me from (C)those who practice injustice,
And save me from (D)men of bloodshed.
For behold, they (E)have [e]set an ambush for my [f]life;
[g]Fierce men (F)attack me,
(G)Not for my wrongdoing nor for my sin, Lord,
[h](H)For no guilt of mine, they run and take their stand against me.
(I)Stir Yourself to [i]help me, and see!
You, (J)Lord God of armies, the God of Israel,
Awake to [j](K)punish all the nations;
(L)Do not be gracious to any who deal treacherously in wrongdoing. Selah
They (M)return at evening, they howl like a (N)dog,
And prowl around the city.
Behold, they (O)gush forth with their mouths;
(P)Swords are in their lips,
For, they say, “(Q)Who hears?”
But You, Lord, (R)laugh at them;
You (S)scoff at all the nations.

Because of [k]his (T)strength I will watch for You,
For God is my (U)refuge.
10 [l]My God (V)in His faithfulness will meet me;
God will let me (W)look triumphantly upon my enemies.
11 Do not kill them, (X)or my people will forget;
[m](Y)Scatter them by Your power and bring them down,
Lord, (Z)our shield.
12 [n]On account of the (AA)sin of their mouths and the words of their lips,
May they even be (AB)caught in their pride,
And on account of (AC)curses and lies which they tell.
13 [o](AD)Destroy them in wrath, [p]destroy them so that they will no longer exist;
So that people may (AE)know that God [q]rules in Jacob,
To the ends of the earth. Selah
14 They (AF)return at evening, they howl like a dog,
And prowl around the city.
15 They (AG)wander about [r]for food
And [s]murmur if they are not satisfied.

16 But as for me, I will (AH)sing of Your strength;
Yes, I will (AI)joyfully sing of Your faithfulness in the (AJ)morning,
For You have been my (AK)refuge
And a (AL)place of refuge on the day of my distress.
17 (AM)My strength, I will sing praises to You;
For God is my (AN)refuge, the [t]God who shows me favor.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 59 Title Lit Do Not Destroy
  2. Psalm 59 Title Possibly Epigrammatic Poem or Atonement Psalm
  3. Psalm 59 Title 1 Sam 19:11
  4. Psalm 59:1 Or May You put me in an inaccessibly high place
  5. Psalm 59:3 Or lain in wait
  6. Psalm 59:3 Lit soul
  7. Psalm 59:3 Or Strong
  8. Psalm 59:4 Lit Without guilt
  9. Psalm 59:4 Lit meet
  10. Psalm 59:5 Lit visit
  11. Psalm 59:9 LXX, some mss and some ancient versions my strength (cf. v 17)
  12. Psalm 59:10 Many mss and some ancient versions The God of my faithfulness
  13. Psalm 59:11 Or Make them wander
  14. Psalm 59:12 Or The sin of their mouth is the word of their lips,
  15. Psalm 59:13 Lit Bring to an end
  16. Psalm 59:13 Lit Bring to an end
  17. Psalm 59:13 Or is Ruler
  18. Psalm 59:15 Lit to eat
  19. Psalm 59:15 Another reading is linger all night
  20. Psalm 59:17 Lit God of my favor

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.

Deliver me from my enemies, O God;(B)
    be my fortress against those who are attacking me.(C)
Deliver me from evildoers(D)
    and save me from those who are after my blood.(E)

See how they lie in wait for me!
    Fierce men conspire(F) against me
    for no offense or sin of mine, Lord.
I have done no wrong,(G) yet they are ready to attack me.(H)
    Arise to help me; look on my plight!(I)
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)

They return at evening,
    snarling like dogs,(N)
    and prowl about the city.
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)
But you laugh at them, Lord;(R)
    you scoff at all those nations.(S)

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)

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 59:1 In Hebrew texts 59:1-17 is numbered 59:2-18.
  2. Psalm 59:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  3. Psalm 59:5 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 13.
  4. Psalm 59:11 Or sovereign

13 (A)Do not withhold discipline from a child;
Though you strike him with the rod, he will not die.
14 You shall strike him with the rod
And (B)rescue his soul from Sheol.

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Saying 13

13 Do not withhold discipline from a child;
    if you punish them with the rod, they will not die.
14 Punish them with the rod
    and save them from death.(A)

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