Psalms59
New American Standard
1 Rescue me from my enemies, my God; Set me securely on high away from those who rise up against me.
2 Rescue me from those who practice injustice, And save me from men of bloodshed.
3 For behold, they have set an ambush for my life; Fierce men attack me, Not for my wrongdoing nor for my sin, Lord,
4 For no guilt of mine, they run and take their stand against me. Stir Yourself to help me, and see!
5 You, Lord God of armies, the God of Israel, Awake to punish all the nations; Do not be gracious to any who deal treacherously in wrongdoing. Selah
6 They return at evening, they howl like a dog, And prowl around the city.
7 Behold, they gush forth with their mouths; Swords are in their lips, For, they say, “Who hears?”
8 But You, Lord, laugh at them; You scoff at all the nations.
9 Because of his strength I will watch for You, For God is my refuge.
10 My God in His faithfulness will meet me; God will let me look triumphantly upon my enemies.
11 Do not kill them, or my people will forget; Scatter them by Your power and bring them down, Lord, our shield.
12 On account of the sin of their mouths and the words of their lips, May they even be caught in their pride, And on account of curses and lies which they tell.
13 Destroy them in wrath, destroy them so that they will no longer exist; So that people may know that God rules in Jacob, To the ends of the earth. Selah
14 They return at evening, they howl like a dog, And prowl around the city.
15 They wander about for food And murmur if they are not satisfied.
16 But as for me, I will sing of Your strength; Yes, I will joyfully sing of Your faithfulness in the morning, For You have been my refuge And a place of refuge on the day of my distress.
17 My strength, I will sing praises to You; For God is my refuge, the God who shows me favor.
Study
Psalms 59Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 59. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: David prays for deliverance from his enemies. (1–7). He foresees their destruction. (8–17).
vv1-7
In these words we hear the voice of David when a prisoner in his own house; the voice of Christ when surrounded by his merciless enemies; the voice of the church when under bondage in the world; and the voice of the Christian when under temptation, affliction, and persecution. And thus earnestly should we pray daily, to be defended and delivered from our spiritual enemies, the temptations of Satan, and the corruptions of our own hearts. We should fear suffering as evil-doers, but not be ashamed of the hatred of workers of iniquity. It is not strange, if those regard not what they themselves say, who have made themselves believe that God regards not what they say. And where there is no fear of God, there is nothing to secure proper regard to man.
vv8-17
It is our wisdom and duty, in times of danger and difficulty, to wait upon God; for he is our defence, in whom we shall be safe. It is very comfortable to us, in prayer, to look to God as the God of our mercy, the Author of all good in us, and the Giver of all good to us. The wicked can never be satisfied, which is the greatest misery in a poor condition. A contented man, if he has not what he would have, yet he does not quarrel with Providence, nor fret within himself. It is not poverty, but discontent that makes a man unhappy. David would praise God because he had many times, and all along, found Him his refuge in the day of trouble. He that is all this to us, is certainly worthy of our best affections, praises, and services. The trials of his people will end in joy and praise. When the night of affliction is over, they will sing of the Lord's power and mercy in the morning. Let believers now, in assured faith and hope, praise Him for those mercies, for which they will rejoice and praise him for ever.
Key Words
נָצַח: properly, to glitter from afar, i.e. to be eminent (as a superintendent, especially of the Temple services and its music); to be permanent
עַל: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
אַל תַּשְׁחֵת: 'Thou must not destroy'; probably the opening words to a popular song
מִכְתָּם: an engraving, i.e. (techn.) a poem
דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse
שָׁאוּל: Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites
שָׁלַח: to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
שָׁמַר: properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.
בַּיִת: a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
מוּת: to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
Cross References
Psalms 59The historical occasion of Saul sending men to watch David's house to kill him.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel description of malicious words as sharp, destructive weapons like swords.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel imagery of God laughing in derision at the proud, futile plots of wicked men.
Supported by JFB
The refrains match; David calls God his strength and defense in both verses.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Pool compares the 'heathen' inside Israel to the 'strangers' acting like barbarians in Psalm 54.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Thematic parallel of a killer being spared immediate death to be a wandering, scattered monument of judgment.
Supported by JFB
Both proclaim that God's judgments make His rule over Israel known to all the earth.
Supported by JFB
The deliberate, ironic repetition of the wicked returning like growling, disappointed dogs in the evening.
Supported by JFB
The Lord laughs at the schemes of the wicked, knowing their day of judgment is coming.
Supported by JFB
God preventing or anticipating His servant with the blessings of His goodness and timely mercy.
Supported by JFB
Similar assurance of seeing God's justice executed and triumphing over malicious foes.
Supported by JFB
God's judgments globally exalt His sovereignty, demonstrating that He rules over the earth.
Supported by JFB
The contrasting transition from a night of danger to singing God's mercy in the morning.
Supported by JFB
Poole links Israel's wicked elites to heathens, echoing Amos comparing backslidden Israel to Ethiopians.
Supported by Matthew Poole