Psalms 59:1-6

Context

Psalm 59¹

For the music director; according to the al-tashcheth style;² a prayer³ of David, written when Saul sent men to surround his house and murder him.⁴

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

Protect me⁵ from those who attack me!⁶

59:2 Deliver me from evildoers!⁷

Rescue me from violent men!⁸

59:3 For look, they wait to ambush me;⁹

powerful men stalk¹⁰ me,

but not because I have rebelled or sinned, O Lord.¹¹

59:4 Though I have done nothing wrong,¹² they are anxious to attack.¹³

Spring into action and help me! Take notice of me!¹⁴

59:5 You, O Lord God, the invincible warrior,¹⁵ the God of Israel,

rouse yourself and punish¹⁶ all the nations!

Have no mercy on any treacherous evildoers! (Selah)

59:6 They return in the evening;

they growl¹⁷ like a dog

and prowl around outside¹⁸ the city.

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

[59:1] ²tn 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] ³tn 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] ⁴tn Heb “when Saul sent and they watched his house in order to kill him.”

[59:1] ⁵tn Or “make me secure”; Heb “set me on high.”

[59:1] ⁶tn Heb “from those who raise themselves up [against] me.”

[59:2] ⁷tn Heb “from the workers of wickedness.”

[59:2] ⁸tn Heb “from men of bloodshed.”

[59:3] ⁹tn Heb “my life.”

[59:3] ¹⁰tn 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.

[59:3] ¹¹sn The point is that the psalmist’s enemies have no justifiable reason for attacking him. He has neither rebelled or sinned against the Lord.

[59:4] ¹²tn Heb “without sin.”

[59:4] ¹³tn Heb “they run and they are determined.”

[59:4] ¹⁴tn Heb “arise to meet me and see.” The Hebrew verb קָרָא (qara’, “to meet; to encounter”) here carries the nuance of “to help.”

[59:5] ¹⁵tn Heb “Lord, God, Hosts.” One expects the construct form אֱלֹהֵי (’elohey) before צְבָאוֹת (tsÿva’ot, “hosts”). See Ps 89:9, but יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים (yÿhvah ’elohim) precedes צְבָאוֹת (tsÿva’ot) in Pss 80:4, 19; 84:8 as well.

[59:5] ¹⁶tn Heb “wake up to punish” (see Pss 35:23; 44:23).

[59:6] ¹⁷tn Or “howl”; or “bark.”

[59:6] ¹⁸tn Heb “go around.”