Psalms 59:8

8 But you, God, break out laughing; you treat the godless nations like jokes.

Psalms 59:8 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 59:8

But thou, O Lord, shall laugh at them
Disappoint their counsels, hinder them from performing their enterprise; send them back with shame and confusion, and expose them to the laughter and derision of others; as Saul's messengers were, when instead of David they found an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats' hair for its bolster, ( 1 Samuel 19:16 ) ; the same is said as here with respect to the enemies of Christ, ( Psalms 2:4 ) ;

thou shall have all the Heathen in derision:
either David's enemies, who, though Israelites, yet acted like Heathens to him, as in ( Psalms 59:5 ) ; or the Gentiles that were gathered together against Christ, ( Psalms 2:1-4 ) ; or the antichristian states and powers, who will be triumphed over at the time of their ruin, ( Revelation 18:20 ) ; and even all the wicked at the last day, ( Proverbs 1:26 ) .

Psalms 59:8 In-Context

6 They return when the sun goes down, They howl like coyotes, ringing the city.
7 Then suddenly they're all at the gate, Snarling invective, drawn daggers in their teeth. They think they'll never get caught.
8 But you, God, break out laughing; you treat the godless nations like jokes.
9 Strong God, I'm watching you do it, I can always count on you.
10 God in dependable love shows up on time, shows me my enemies in ruin.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.