Psalms 59:4-14

4 For no fault of mine, they run and prepare. Awaken to help me, and see!

5 You, ADONAI Elohei-Tzva'ot, God of Isra'el, arouse yourself to punish all the nations; spare none of those wicked traitors. (Selah)

6 They return at nightfall, snarling like dogs as they go around the city.

7 Look what pours out of their mouth, what swords are on their lips, [as they say to themselves,] "No one is listening, anyway."

8 But you, ADONAI, laugh at them, you mock all the nations.

9 My Strength, I will watch for you, for God is my fortress.

10 God, who gives me grace, will come to me; God will let me gaze in triumph at my foes.

11 Don't kill them, or my people will forget; instead, by your power, make them wander to and fro; but bring them down, Adonai our Shield,

12 for the sins their mouths make with each word from their lips. Let them be trapped by their pride for the curses and falsehoods they utter.

13 Finish them off in wrath, finish them off, put an end to them, and let them know to the ends of the earth that God is Ruler in Ya'akov. (Selah)

14 They return at nightfall, snarling like dogs as they go around the city.

Psalms 59:4-14 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.