Salmi 59

1 Mictam di Davide, intorno a ciò che Saulle mando’ a guardar la sua casa, per ucciderlo; dato al capo de’ Musici, sopra Al-tashet. DIO mio, riscuotimi da’ miei nemici; Levami ad alto d’infra quelli che si levano contro a me.

2 Riscuotimi dagli operatori d’iniquità, E salvami dagli uomini di sangue.

3 Perciocchè, ecco, han posti agguati all’anima mia; Uomini possenti si son raunati contro a me; Senza che vi sia in me, nè misfatto, nè peccato, o Signore.

4 Benchè, non vi sia iniquità in me, pur corrono, e si apparecchiano; Destati per venire ad incontrarmi, e vedi.

5 Tu, dico, Signore Iddio degli eserciti, Dio d’Israele, Risvegliati per visitar tutte le genti; Non far grazia a tutti quelli che perfidamente operano iniquità. Sela.

6 La sera vanno e vengono; romoreggiano come cani, E circuiscono la città.

7 Ecco, sgorgano parole colla lor bocca; Hanno de’ coltelli nelle lor labbra; perciocchè dicono: Chi ci ode?

8 Ma tu, Signore, ti riderai di loro; Tu ti befferai di tutte le genti.

9 Io mi guarderò dalla lor forza, riducendomi a te; Perciocchè tu, o Dio, sei il mio alto ricetto.

10 L’Iddio mio benigno mi verrà ad incontrare; Iddio mi farà veder ne’ miei nemici quello che io desidero.

11 Non ucciderli già; che talora il mio popolo non lo dimentichi; Falli, per la tua potenza, andar vagando; ed abbattili, O Signore, scudo nostro;

12 Per lo peccato della lor bocca, per le parole delle lor labbra; E sieno colti per l’orgoglio loro, E perciocchè tengono ragionamenti di esecrazioni e di menzogne.

13 Distruggili nel tuo furore; distruggili sì che non sieno più; E sappiano, che Iddio signoreggia in Giacobbe, Anzi fino alle estremità della terra. Sela.

14 Vadano pure, e vengano la sera; romoreggino come cani, E circuiscano la città.

15 Andranno tapinando per trovar da mangiare; Avvegnachè non sieno sazii, pur passeranno così la notte.

16 Ma io canterò la tua potenza, E la mattina loderò ad alta voce la tua benignità; Perciocchè tu mi sei stato alto ricetto E rifugio, nel giorno che sono stato distretto.

17 O mia forza, io ti salmeggerò; Perciocchè Iddio è il mio alto ricetto, l’Iddio mio benigno.

Salmi 59 Commentary

Chapter 59

David prays for deliverance from his enemies. (1-7) He foresees their destruction. (8-17)

Verses 1-7 In these words we hear the voice of David when a prisoner in his own house; the voice of Christ when surrounded by his merciless enemies; the voice of the church when under bondage in the world; and the voice of the Christian when under temptation, affliction, and persecution. And thus earnestly should we pray daily, to be defended and delivered from our spiritual enemies, the temptations of Satan, and the corruptions of our own hearts. We should fear suffering as evil-doers, but not be ashamed of the hatred of workers of iniquity. It is not strange, if those regard not what they themselves say, who have made themselves believe that God regards not what they say. And where there is no fear of God, there is nothing to secure proper regard to man.

Verses 8-17 It is our wisdom and duty, in times of danger and difficulty, to wait upon God; for he is our defence, in whom we shall be safe. It is very comfortable to us, in prayer, to look to God as the God of our mercy, the Author of all good in us, and the Giver of all good to us. The wicked can never be satisfied, which is the greatest misery in a poor condition. A contented man, if he has not what he would have, yet he does not quarrel with Providence, nor fret within himself. It is not poverty, but discontent that makes a man unhappy. David would praise God because he had many times, and all along, found Him his refuge in the day of trouble. He that is all this to us, is certainly worthy of our best affections, praises, and services. The trials of his people will end in joy and praise. When the night of affliction is over, they will sing of the Lord's power and mercy in the morning. Let believers now, in assured faith and hope, praise Him for those mercies, for which they will rejoice and praise him for ever.

Chapter Summary

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.