Psalm 59

Prayer for Rescue from Enemies.

For the music director; set to #59:0 Lit Do Not DestroyAl-tashheth. A #59:0 Possibly Epigrammatic Poem or Atonement PsalmMikhtam of David, #59:0 1 Sam 19:11when Saul sent men and they watched the house in order to kill him.

1 Rescue me from my enemies, my God;

* 59:1 Or May You put me in an inaccessibly high place Set me securely on high away from those who rise up against me.

2 Rescue me from those who practice injustice,

And save me from men of bloodshed.

3 For behold, they have *59:3 Or lain in waitset an ambush for my *59:3 Lit soullife;

* 59:3 Or Strong Fierce men attack me,

Not for my wrongdoing nor for my sin, Lord,

4 * 59:4 Lit Without guilt For no guilt of mine, they run and take their stand against me.

Stir Yourself to *59:4 Lit meethelp me, and see!

5 You, Lord God of armies, the God of Israel,

Awake to *59:5 Lit visitpunish all the nations;

Do not be gracious to any who deal treacherously in wrongdoing. Selah

6 They return at evening, they howl like a dog,

And prowl around the city.

7 Behold, they gush forth with their mouths;

Swords are in their lips,

For, they say, "Who hears?"

8 But You, Lord, laugh at them;

You scoff at all the nations.

9 Because of*59:9 LXX, some mss and some ancient versions my strength (cf. v 17)his strength I will watch for You,

For God is my refuge.

10 * 59:10 Many mss and some ancient versions The God of my faithfulness My God in His faithfulness will meet me;

God will let me look triumphantly upon my enemies.

11 Do not kill them, or my people will forget;

* 59:11 Or Make them wander Scatter them by Your power and bring them down,

Lord, our shield.

12 * 59:12 Or The sin of their mouth is the word of their lips, On account of the sin of their mouths and the words of their lips,

May they even be caught in their pride,

And on account of curses and lies which they tell.

13 * 59:13 Lit Bring to an end Destroy them in wrath, *59:13 Lit Bring to an enddestroy them so that they will no longer exist;

So that people may know that God *59:13 Or is Rulerrules in Jacob,

To the ends of the earth. Selah

14 They return at evening, they howl like a dog,

And prowl around the city.

15 They wander about *59:15 Lit to eatfor food

And *59:15 Another reading is linger all nightmurmur if they are not satisfied.

16 But as for me, I will sing of Your strength;

Yes, I will joyfully sing of Your faithfulness in the morning,

For You have been my refuge

And a place of refuge on the day of my distress.

17 My strength, I will sing praises to You;

For God is my refuge, the *59:17 Lit God of my favorGod who shows me favor.