Psalms 59:1-6

1 (58-1) <Unto the end, destroy not, for David for an inscription of a title, when Saul sent and watched his house to kill him.> (58-2) Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; and defend me from them that rise up against me.

2 (58-3) Deliver me from them that work iniquity, and save me from bloody men.

3 (58-4) For behold they have caught my soul: the mighty have rushed in upon me:

4 (58-5) Neither is it my iniquity, nor my sin, O Lord: without iniquity have I been, and directed my steps.

5 (58-6) Rise up thou to meet me, and behold: even thou, O Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel. Attend to visit all the nations: have no mercy on all them that work iniquity.

6 (58-7) They shall return at evening, and shall suffer hunger like dogs: and shall go round about the city.

Psalms 59:1-6 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.