Psalms 59:4-14

4 They run and prepare themselves without [my] fault: awake to help me, and behold.

5 Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.

6 They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go about the city.

7 Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords [are] in their lips: for who, [say they], doth hear?

8 But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.

9 [Because of] his strength will I wait upon thee: for God [is] my defense.

10 The God of my mercy will succor me: God will let me see [my desire] upon my enemies.

11 Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield.

12 [For] the sin of their mouth [and] the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying [which] they speak.

13 Consume [them] in wrath, consume [them], that they [may] not [be]: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob to the ends of the earth. Selah.

14 And at evening let them return; [and] let them make a noise like a dog, and go about 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.