Psalms 59:1-9

1 Rescue me from my enemies, O my God. Protect me from those who attack me.

2 Rescue me from troublemakers. Save me from bloodthirsty people.

3 They lie in ambush for me right here! Fierce men attack me, O LORD, but not because of any disobedience,

4 or any sin, or any guilt on my part. They hurry to take positions against me. Wake up, and help me; see [for yourself].

5 O LORD God of Armies, God of Israel, arise to punish all the nations. Have no pity on any traitors. Selah

6 They return in the evening. They howl like dogs. They prowl the city.

7 See what pours out of their mouths-- swords from their lips! [They think,] "Who will hear us?"

8 O LORD, you laugh at them. You make fun of all the nations.

9 O my strength, I watch for you! God is my stronghold, my merciful God!

Psalms 59:1-9 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.