Psalms 59:3

3 See how they lie in wait for me! Fierce men conspire against me for no offense or sin of mine, LORD.

Psalms 59:3 in Other Translations

KJV

3 For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD.

ESV

3 For behold, they lie in wait for my life; fierce men stir up strife against me. For no transgression or sin of mine, O LORD,

NLT

3 They have set an ambush for me. Fierce enemies are out there waiting, LORD, though I have not sinned or offended them.

MSG

3 Desperadoes have ganged up on me, they're hiding in ambush for me. I did nothing to deserve this, God,

CSB

3 Lord, look! They set an ambush for me. Powerful men attack me, but not because of any sin or rebellion of mine.

Psalms 59:3 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 59:3

For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul
As the men did that watched his house, when Saul sent to kill him; so the Jews sought and lay in wait to take away the life of Christ; and very often was it the case of the Apostle Paul, that he was in danger of his life, through the lying in wait of the Jews; so Satan makes use of cunning devices, stratagems, and wiles, to ruin the souls of God's people, if possible; and false teachers lie in wait to deceive them. The emphasis lies upon the word "soul", which is so precious, and the redemption of which has cost so much, even the blood of Christ;

the mighty are gathered against me;
or, "dwell by me"; see ( Psalms 56:6 ) ; around his house, the soldiers that Saul sent; and such were the enemies of Christ, ( Psalms 69:4 ) ; the chief priests, Scribes, and elders, men of great authority and influence among the people; the kings of the earth and rulers, Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and people of the Jews, ( Acts 4:26 Acts 4:27 ) ; yea, Satan, and his principalities and powers; and who are also those against whom the saints wrestle, and would be too mighty for them, were it not that God, and Christ, and the Holy Spirit, and the holy angels, are on their side;

not [for] my transgression, nor [for] my sin, O Lord;
as the cause of such usage and treatment. David was not without original sin, in which he was conceived and born; nor without inward corruptions, of which he often complained; nor without actual transgressions, and some very gross ones, and which he owned and confessed, and prayed for the pardon of: but in the case of Saul there was no transgression nor iniquity in him, as he declared to him himself, and appeals to God for the truth of it, ( 1 Samuel 24:11 ) ( Psalms 7:3-5 ) . One of the words here used signifies "rebellion" ^F13; of this he was not guilty; he never entered into any treasonable measures, nor committed any treasonable practices, nor conspired against the life and crown of his sovereign; in this respect he was quite clear and innocent. Christ, his antitype, was entirely without sin, without original or actual transgression; he had no sin in his nature, nor committed any in his life; he had none inherent in him, only the sins of his people imputed to him; and therefore the usage he met with from men was very cruel and unjust. And as for the saints, though they are not free from sin, original and actual, yet in the case for which they suffer reproach, and are persecuted by men, they are not criminal; they have done nothing to deserve such usage; they do not suffer as evildoers, but as Christians, ( 1 Peter 4:15 1 Peter 4:16 ) .