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Christianity

Psalms 59Deliver Me from My Enemies

Summary

Psalm 59 is a prayer for deliverance headed with the night Saul sent men to watch David's house to kill him. The psalmist protests his innocence and pictures his enemies as dogs that prowl the city at evening, snarling and searching for food. He asks God not to destroy them quickly, so the people will remember, but to bring them down. He ends singing of God's power and mercy in the morning, calling God his defence.

Key verse

“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.”

Psalms 59:16

Themes

  • Innocence
  • Enemies at Night
  • God as Fortress
  • Morning Praise

Text

1

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.

Text: King James Version (1611/1769), public domain.

Across traditions

  • Christianity

    1 Samuel 19: Michal Saves David

    1 Samuel 19:11 to 17 tells how Saul sent messengers to watch David's house, and his wife Michal let him down through a window to escape.

  • Judaism

    Tehillim 59 in the JPS 1917 Tanakh

    The psalm repeats the image of prowling dogs and the refrain naming God as a high tower, and Jewish readers have applied it to times of persecution.

Questions about Psalms 59

What is the story behind Psalm 59?

Its heading places it when Saul sent men to watch David's house at night to kill him. 1 Samuel 19 tells how Michal helped him escape.

Why does Psalm 59 ask God not to slay the enemies?

Verse 11 asks God to humble them rather than destroy them at once, so their fall becomes a lasting lesson to the people.