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For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A poem by David, when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him.

59 Deliver me from my enemies, my God.
    Set me on high from those who rise up against me.
Deliver me from the workers of iniquity.
    Save me from the bloodthirsty men.
For, behold, they lie in wait for my soul.
    The mighty gather themselves together against me,
    not for my disobedience, nor for my sin, Yahweh.
I have done no wrong, yet they are ready to attack me.
    Rise up, behold, and help me!
You, Yahweh God of Armies, the God of Israel,
    rouse yourself to punish the nations.
    Show no mercy to the wicked traitors. Selah.
They return at evening, howling like dogs,
    and prowl around the city.
Behold, they spew with their mouth.
    Swords are in their lips,
    “For”, they say, “who hears us?”
But you, Yahweh, laugh at them.
    You scoff at all the nations.
Oh, my Strength, I watch for you,
    for God is my high tower.
10 My God will go before me with his loving kindness.
    God will let me look at my enemies in triumph.
11 Don’t kill them, or my people may forget.
    Scatter them by your power, and bring them down, Lord our shield.
12 For the sin of their mouth, and the words of their lips,
    let them be caught in their pride,
    for the curses and lies which they utter.
13 Consume them in wrath.
    Consume them, and they will be no more.
Let them know that God rules in Jacob,
    to the ends of the earth. Selah.
14 At evening let them return.
    Let them howl like a dog, and go around the city.
15 They shall wander up and down for food,
    and wait all night if they aren’t satisfied.

16 But I will sing of your strength.
    Yes, I will sing aloud of your loving kindness in the morning.
For you have been my high tower,
    a refuge in the day of my distress.
17 To you, my strength, I will sing praises.
    For God is my high tower, the God of my mercy.

Psalm 59

Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies

To the leader: Do Not Destroy. Of David. A Miktam, when Saul ordered his house to be watched in order to kill him.

Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;
    protect me from those who rise up against me.(A)
Deliver me from those who work evil;
    from the bloodthirsty, save me.(B)

Even now they lie in wait for my life;
    the mighty stir up strife against me.
For no transgression or sin of mine, O Lord,(C)
    for no fault of mine, they run and make ready.

Rouse yourself, come to my help and see!(D)
    You, Lord God of hosts, are God of Israel.
Awake to punish all the nations;
    spare none of those who treacherously plot evil. Selah(E)

Each evening they come back
    howling like dogs
    and prowling about the city.(F)
There they are, bellowing with their mouths,
    with sharp words[a] on their lips,
    for “Who,” they think,[b] “will hear us?”(G)

But you laugh at them, O Lord;
    you hold all the nations in derision.(H)
O my strength, I will watch for you,
    for you, O God, are my fortress.(I)
10 My God in his steadfast love will meet me;
    my God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.(J)

11 Do not kill them, or my people may forget;
    make them totter by your power and bring them down,
    O Lord, our shield.(K)
12 For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips,
    let them be trapped in their pride.
For the cursing and lies that they utter,(L)
13     consume them in wrath;
    consume them until they are no more.
Then it will be known to the ends of the earth
    that God rules over Jacob. Selah(M)

14 Each evening they come back
    howling like dogs
    and prowling about the city.(N)
15 They roam about for food
    and growl if they do not get their fill.

16 But I will sing of your might;
    I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.
For you have been a fortress for me
    and a refuge in the day of my distress.(O)
17 O my strength, I will sing praises to you,
    for you, O God, are my fortress,
    the God who shows me steadfast love.(P)

Footnotes

  1. 59.7 Heb with swords
  2. 59.7 Heb lacks they think