Psalms 59:2-12

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 though I am not at 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 hold all the heathen in derision.

9 Because of his strength, I will wait upon Thee; for God is my defense.

10 The God of my mercy shall go before 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 the cursing and lying which they speak.

Psalms 59:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him. The history of Saul's sending messengers to watch the house of David, and to kill him when he rose in the morning, is in 1 Samuel 19:11; which was the occasion of his writing this psalm; though the title of the Syriac version of it is, "David said or composed this, when he heard that the priests were slain by Saul:" and in the same is added, "but unto us it declares the conversion of the Gentiles to the faith, and the rejection of the Jews." And which perhaps is designed in Psalm 59:5; and some interpreters are of opinion that the whole psalm is to be understood of Christ, of whom David was a type, especially in his sufferings; and there are some things in it which better agree with him than with David, as particularly his being without sin, Psalm 59:3.