Psalms 17:14

Context

17:14 Lord, use your power to deliver me from these murderers,¹

from the murderers of this world!²

They enjoy prosperity;³

you overwhelm them with the riches they desire.⁴

They have many children,

and leave their wealth to their offspring.⁵

Psalms 59:1

Context

Psalm 59⁶

For the music director; according to the al-tashcheth style;⁷ a prayer⁸ of David, written when Saul sent men to surround his house and murder him.⁹

59:1 Deliver me from my enemies, my God!

Protect me¹⁰ from those who attack me!¹¹

[17:14] ¹tc Heb “from men [by] your hand, Lord.” The translation assumes an emendation (both here and in the following line) of מִמְתִים (mimtim, “from men”) to מִמְמִתִים (mimmitim, “from those who kill”). For other uses of the plural form of the Hiphil participle of מוּת (mut, “die”), see 2 Kgs 17:26 (used with lions as subject), Job 33:22 (apparently referring to the agents of death), and Jer 26:15 (used of those seeking Jeremiah’s life).

[17:14] ²tn Heb “from men, from [the] world.” On the emendation of “men” to “murderers,” see the preceding note on the word “murderers.”

[17:14] ³tn Heb “their portion, in life.”

[17:14] ⁴tn Heb “and [with] your treasures you fill their belly.”

[17:14] ⁵tn Heb “they are satisfied [with] sons and leave their abundance to their children.”

[59:1] ⁶sn Psalm 59. The psalmist calls down judgment on his foreign enemies, whom he compares to ravenous wild dogs.

[59:1] ⁷tn 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.

[59:1] ⁸tn 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.”

[59:1] ⁹tn Heb “when Saul sent and they watched his house in order to kill him.”

[59:1] ¹⁰tn Or “make me secure”; Heb “set me on high.”

[59:1] ¹¹tn Heb “from those who raise themselves up [against] me.”