Psalms — Chapter 59

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1Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.

2Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

10The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.

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

12For 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.

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

14And at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.

15Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied.

16But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.

17Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.

1Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: Set me on high from them that rise up against me.

2Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, And save me from the bloodthirsty men.

3For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul; The mighty gather themselves together against me: Not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O Jehovah.

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

5Even thou, O Jehovah God of hosts, the God of Israel, Arise to visit all the nations: Be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah

6They return at evening, they howl like a dog, And go round about the city.

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

8But thou, O Jehovah, wilt laugh at them; Thou wilt have all the nations in derision.

9[Because of] his strength I will give heed unto thee; For God is my high tower.

10My God with his lovingkindness will meet me: God will let me see [my desire] upon mine enemies.

11Slay 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.

13Consume them in wrath, consume them, so that they shall be no more: And let them know that God ruleth in Jacob, Unto the ends of the earth. Selah

14And at evening let them return, let them howl like a dog, And go round about the city.

15They shall wander up and down for food, And tarry all night if they be not satisfied.

16But I will sing of thy strength; Yea, I will sing aloud of thy lovingkindness in the morning: For thou hast been my high tower, And a refuge in the day of my distress.

17Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing praises: For God is my high tower, the God of my mercy. Psalm 60 For the Chief Musician; [set to] Shushan Eduth. Michtam of David, to teach; and when he strove with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah, and Joab returned, and smote of Edom in the Valley of Salt twelve thousand.

1For the music director, according to the al-tashcheth style; a prayer of David, written when Saul sent men to surround his house and murder him. Deliver me from my enemies, my God. Protect me from those who attack me.

2Deliver me from evildoers. Rescue me from violent men.

3For look, they wait to ambush me; powerful men stalk me, but not because I have rebelled or sinned, O Lord.

4Though I have done nothing wrong, they are anxious to attack. Spring into action and help me. Take notice of me.

5You, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, rouse yourself and punish all the nations. Have no mercy on any treacherous evildoers. (Selah)

6They return in the evening; they growl like dogs and prowl around outside the city.

7Look, they hurl insults at me and openly threaten to kill me, for they say, “Who hears?”

8But you, O Lord, laugh in disgust at them; you taunt all the nations.

9You are my source of strength. I will wait for you. For God is my refuge.

10The God who loves me will help me; God will enable me to triumph over my enemies.

11Do not strike them dead suddenly, because then my people might forget the lesson. Use your power to make them homeless vagabonds and then bring them down, O Lord who shields us.

12They speak sinful words. So let them be trapped by their own pride and by the curses and lies they speak.

13Angrily wipe them out. Wipe them out so they vanish. Let them know that God rules over Jacob and to the ends of the earth. (Selah)

14They return in the evening; they growl like dogs and prowl around outside the city.

15They wander around looking for something to eat; they refuse to sleep until they are full.

16As for me, I will sing about your strength; I will praise your loyal love in the morning. For you are my refuge and my place of shelter when I face trouble.

17You are my source of strength. I will sing praises to you. For God is my refuge, the God who loves me.

1Deliver me from my enemies, my God. Set me on high from those who rise up against me.

2Deliver me from the workers of iniquity. Save me from the bloodthirsty men.

3For, behold, they lie in wait for my soul. The mighty gather themselves together against me, not for my disobedience, nor for my sin, Yahweh.

4I have done no wrong, yet they are ready to attack me. Rise up, behold, and help me!

5You, Yahweh God of Armies, the God of Israel, rouse yourself to punish the nations. Show no mercy to the wicked traitors. Selah.

6They return at evening, howling like dogs, and prowl around the city.

7Behold, they spew with their mouth. Swords are in their lips, “For”, they say, “who hears us?”

8But you, Yahweh, laugh at them. You scoff at all the nations.

9Oh, my Strength, I watch for you, for God is my high tower.

10My God will go before me with his loving kindness. God will let me look at my enemies in triumph.

11Don’t kill them, or my people may forget. Scatter them by your power, and bring them down, Lord our shield.

12For the sin of their mouth, and the words of their lips, let them be caught in their pride, for the curses and lies which they utter.

13Consume them in wrath. Consume them, and they will be no more. Let them know that God rules in Jacob, to the ends of the earth. Selah.

14At evening let them return. Let them howl like a dog, and go around the city.

15They shall wander up and down for food, and wait all night if they aren’t satisfied.

16But I will sing of your strength. Yes, I will sing aloud of your loving kindness in the morning. For you have been my high tower, a refuge in the day of my distress.

17To you, my strength, I will sing praises. For God is my high tower, the God of my mercy.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Videos
Reflection

Summary

A lament — David prays for deliverance when Saul sends men to watch his house; enemies prowl like howling dogs, but God is David's fortress and strength; he will sing of God's power and steadfast love in the morning.

Authorship & Background

Author: Multiple authors — primarily David (73 psalms attributed), plus Asaph (12), Sons of Korah (11), Solomon (2), Moses (1), Heman (1), Ethan (1), and anonymous. The Psalter was compiled over approximately 1000 years and served as Israel's hymnal and prayer book. The book is divided into five 'books' (1-41, 42-72, 73-89, 90-106, 107-150), paralleling the five books of Moses. Key themes: worship, lament, praise, trust, kingship, creation, wisdom, Messianic prophecy, and the full range of human emotion brought before God.
Classification: Individual Lament Psalm Attributed Author: David Key Themes: Deliverance from enemies, innocence under persecution, God as fortress and defense, morning praise, God's sovereign laughter over the wicked
Historical Context: The superscription connects this psalm to when Saul sent men to watch David's house in order to kill him (1 Samuel 19:11-17). Michal, David's wife, warned him and helped him escape through a window. The "dogs" prowling the city (vv.6,14) likely represent Saul's agents circling David's house at night. This Miktam is set to "Do Not Destroy" (Al Tashheth). David protests his innocence — he has committed no transgression against Saul — yet is hunted like a criminal. The psalm uses a refrain structure with the dog imagery (vv.6,14) creating a frame around the central section.
Structure:
  • Cry for Deliverance (vv.1-5)
  • The Prowling Enemies (vv.6-7)
  • God's Sovereign Derision (vv.8-10)
  • Prayer for Just Judgment (vv.11-13)
  • The Prowling Enemies Repeated (vv.14-15)
  • Morning Song of Praise (vv.16-17)

Map & Geography

  • No specific geographic locations are referenced in this chapter.

Reflection

  • 1. Innocence does not prevent persecution (vv.3-4). David is clear: "not for my transgression, nor for my sin." Sometimes you suffer not because you've done wrong but because others are doing wrong. Don't assume persecution means you deserve it.
  • 2. God laughs at what terrifies you (v.8). The enemies that keep you awake at night are a joke to the God who rules the universe. His perspective should inform yours — what seems overwhelming from earth is laughable from heaven.
  • 3. Morning is for singing (v.16). After the long night of danger, choose to greet the morning with praise. Don't let last night's fears set the tone for today. Morning is for mercy and music.
  • 4. God is both strength and fortress (v.17). He is offensive power (strength) and defensive protection (fortress). Whatever you need — energy to advance or shelter to rest — He provides both.