A psalm of David, written when he fled from his son Absalom. 2
3:1 Lord, how 3 numerous are my enemies!
Many attack me. 4
25:19 Watch my enemies, for they outnumber me;
they hate me and want to harm me. 5
For the music director; according to the yonath-elem-rechovim style; 7 a prayer 8 of David, written when the Philistines captured him in Gath. 9
56:1 Have mercy on me, O God, for men are attacking me! 10
All day long hostile enemies 11 are tormenting me. 12
56:2 Those who anticipate my defeat 13 attack me all day long.
Indeed, 14 many are fighting against me, O Exalted One. 15
For the music director; according to the al-tashcheth style; 17 a prayer 18 of David, written when Saul sent men to surround his house and murder him. 19
59:1 Deliver me from my enemies, my God!
Protect me 20 from those who attack me! 21
59:2 Deliver me from evildoers! 22
Rescue me from violent men! 23
59:3 For look, they wait to ambush me; 24
powerful men stalk 25 me,
but not because I have rebelled or sinned, O Lord. 26
1 sn Psalm 3. The psalmist acknowledges that he is confronted by many enemies (vv. 1-2). But, alluding to a divine oracle he has received (vv. 4-5), he affirms his confidence in God’s ability to protect him (vv. 3, 6) and requests that God make his promise a reality (vv. 7-8).
2 sn According to Jewish tradition, David offered this prayer when he was forced to flee from Jerusalem during his son Absalom’s attempted coup (see 2 Sam 15:13-17).
3 tn The Hebrew term מָה (mah, “how”) is used here as an adverbial exclamation (see BDB 553 s.v.).
4 tn Heb “many rise up against me.”
5 tn Heb “see my enemies for they are numerous, and [with] violent hatred they hate me.”
6 sn Psalm 56. Despite the threats of his enemies, the psalmist is confident the Lord will keep his promise to protect and deliver him.
7 tn The literal meaning of this phrase is “silent dove, distant ones.” Perhaps it refers to a particular style of music, a tune title, or a type of musical instrument.
8 tn The precise meaning of the Hebrew word מִכְתָּם (miktam), which also appears in the heading to Pss 16 and 57-60 is uncertain. HALOT 582-83 s.v. defines it as “inscription.”
9 sn According to the superscription, David wrote this psalm when the Philistines seized him and took him to King Achish of Gath (see 1 Sam 21:11-15).
10 tn According to BDB 983 s.v. II שָׁאַף, the verb is derived from שָׁאַף (sha’af, “to trample, crush”) rather than the homonymic verb “pant after.”
11 tn Heb “a fighter.” The singular is collective for his enemies (see vv. 5-6). The Qal of לָחַם (lakham, “fight”) also occurs in Ps 35:1.
12 tn The imperfect verbal form draws attention to the continuing nature of the enemies’ attacks.
13 tn Heb “to those who watch me [with evil intent].” See also Pss 5:8; 27:11; 54:5; 59:10.
14 tn Or “for.”
15 tn Some take the Hebrew term מָרוֹם (marom, “on high; above”) as an adverb modifying the preceding participle and translate, “proudly” (cf. NASB; NIV “in their pride”). The present translation assumes the term is a divine title here. The
16 sn Psalm 59. The psalmist calls down judgment on his foreign enemies, whom he compares to ravenous wild dogs.
17 tn Heb “do not destroy.” Perhaps this refers to a particular style of music, a tune title, or a musical instrument. These words also appear in the superscription to Pss 57-58, 75.
18 tn The precise meaning of the Hebrew word מִכְתָּם (miktam), which also appears in the heading to Pss 16, 56-58, 60 is uncertain. HALOT 582-83 s.v. defines it as “inscription.”
19 tn Heb “when Saul sent and they watched his house in order to kill him.”
20 tn Or “make me secure”; Heb “set me on high.”
21 tn Heb “from those who raise themselves up [against] me.”
22 tn Heb “from the workers of wickedness.”
23 tn Heb “from men of bloodshed.”
24 tn Heb “my life.”
25 tn The Hebrew verb is from the root גּוּר (gur), which means “to challenge, attack” in Isa 54:15 and “to stalk” (with hostile intent) in Ps 56:8.
26 sn The point is that the psalmist’s enemies have no justifiable reason for attacking him. He has neither rebelled or sinned against the