Psalm 59

1 Ein gülden Kleinod Davids, daß er nicht umkäme, da Saul hinsandte und ließ sein Haus verwahren, daß er ihn tötete. Errette mich, mein Gott, von meinen Feinden und schütze mich vor denen, die sich wider mich setzen. {~}

2 Errette mich von den Übeltätern und hilf mir von den Blutgierigen.

3 Denn siehe, HERR, sie lauern auf meine Seele; die Starken sammeln sich wider mich ohne meine Schuld und Missetat.

4 Sie laufen ohne meine Schuld und bereiten sich. Erwache und begegne mir und siehe drein.

5 Du, HERR, Gott Zebaoth, Gott Israels, wache auf und suche heim alle Heiden; sei der keinem gnädig, die so verwegene Übeltäter sind. (Sela.)

6 Des Abends heulen sie wiederum wie die Hunde und laufen in der Stadt umher.

7 Siehe, sie plaudern miteinander; Schwerter sind in ihren Lippen: "Wer sollte es hören?"

8 Aber du, HERR, wirst ihrer lachen und aller Heiden spotten.

9 Vor ihrer Macht halte ich mich zu dir; denn Gott ist mein Schutz.

10 Gott erzeigt mir reichlich seine Güte; Gott läßt mich meine Lust sehen an meinen Feinden.

11 Erwürge sie nicht, daß es mein Volk nicht vergesse; zerstreue sie aber mit deiner Macht, HERR, unser Schild, und stoße sie hinunter!

12 Das Wort ihrer Lippen ist eitel Sünde, darum müssen sie gefangen werden in ihrer Hoffart; denn sie reden eitel Fluchen und Lügen. {~}

13 Vertilge sie ohne alle Gnade; vertilge sie, daß sie nichts seien und innewerden, daß Gott Herrscher sei in Jakob, in aller Welt. (Sela.)

14 Des Abends heulen sie wiederum wie die Hunde und laufen in der Stadt umher.

15 Sie laufen hin und her um Speise und murren, wenn sie nicht satt werden.

16 Ich aber will von deiner Macht singen und des Morgens rühmen deine Güte; denn du bist mir Schutz und Zuflucht in meiner Not.

17 Ich will dir, mein Hort, lobsingen; denn du, Gott, bist mein Schutz und mein gnädiger Gott.

Psalm 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.