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This is for the music leader, and he should use special music.

David wrote this prayer when King Saul sent men to catch David at his house and murder him.

A prayer[a]

59 My God, please save me from my enemies!
They are attacking me,
    so please keep me safe from them.
Rescue me from those dangerous men,
    who are doing evil things.
Look at them! They are waiting to kill me!
    Cruel men are ready to attack me.
Lord, I have not done anything against them,
    but they still want to kill me.
I have done nothing that is wrong,
    but they are preparing to attack me.
Do something to help me!
    Look at what they are doing!
For you are the Lord God Almighty,
    the God that Israel serves.
Get up and punish all the foreign nations.
Do not forgive any wicked people
    who have turned against us.
Selah.
Those bad people come back to the city every evening.
They go from place to place,
    and they cry out like dogs.
They shout evil things,
    and their words hurt like swords.
They think, ‘Nobody can hear what we say!’
But Lord, you laugh at them.
    You laugh at all the foreign nations.
I will wait for you to help me,
    because you are the one who gives me strength.
You, God, are the strong place
    where I will be safe.
10 Yes God, you love me with a faithful love,
    and you will come to help me.
God will let me see that he has won against my enemies.
11 Do not kill them yet,
    or my people will soon forget.
Use your power to send them away without homes.
    Then make them fall!
You are our Lord
    who keeps us safe like a soldier's shield.
12 They speak bad words that are evil.
Let their own pride catch them in a trap,
    because they curse people,
    and they tell lies.
13 Because you are angry with them,
    destroy them!
Destroy them completely,
    so that they are no more.
Then everybody will know that God rules in Israel,
    and he rules everywhere in the earth.
Selah.
14 Those bad people come back to the city every evening.
They go from place to place,
    and they cry out like dogs.
15 They go from place to place
    and they look for food to eat.
They will not rest until they are full.
16 But I will sing to praise you.
    I will sing about your strength!
In the morning,
    I will praise you for your faithful love.
Because you are the strong place where I can hide.
When I am in trouble,
    you keep me safe.
17 You are the one who gives me strength.
    I will sing songs to praise you.
You, God, are my strong, safe place.
You are the God who loves me with a faithful love.

Footnotes

  1. 59:1 See 1 Samuel 19:8-18.

Psalm 59[a]

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.[b] When Saul had sent men to watch David’s house(A) in order to kill him.

Deliver me from my enemies, O God;(B)
    be my fortress against those who are attacking me.(C)
Deliver me from evildoers(D)
    and save me from those who are after my blood.(E)

See how they lie in wait for me!
    Fierce men conspire(F) against me
    for no offense or sin of mine, Lord.
I have done no wrong,(G) yet they are ready to attack me.(H)
    Arise to help me; look on my plight!(I)
You, Lord God Almighty,
    you who are the God of Israel,(J)
rouse yourself(K) to punish all the nations;(L)
    show no mercy to wicked traitors.[c](M)

They return at evening,
    snarling like dogs,(N)
    and prowl about the city.
See what they spew from their mouths(O)
    the words from their lips are sharp as swords,(P)
    and they think, “Who can hear us?”(Q)
But you laugh at them, Lord;(R)
    you scoff at all those nations.(S)

You are my strength,(T) I watch for you;
    you, God, are my fortress,(U)
10     my God on whom I can rely.

God will go before me
    and will let me gloat over those who slander me.
11 But do not kill them, Lord our shield,[d](V)
    or my people will forget.(W)
In your might uproot them
    and bring them down.(X)
12 For the sins of their mouths,(Y)
    for the words of their lips,(Z)
    let them be caught in their pride.(AA)
For the curses and lies they utter,
13     consume them in your wrath,
    consume them till they are no more.(AB)
Then it will be known to the ends of the earth
    that God rules over Jacob.(AC)

14 They return at evening,
    snarling like dogs,
    and prowl about the city.
15 They wander about for food(AD)
    and howl if not satisfied.
16 But I will sing(AE) of your strength,(AF)
    in the morning(AG) I will sing of your love;(AH)
for you are my fortress,(AI)
    my refuge in times of trouble.(AJ)

17 You are my strength, I sing praise to you;
    you, God, are my fortress,
    my God on whom I can rely.(AK)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 59:1 In Hebrew texts 59:1-17 is numbered 59:2-18.
  2. Psalm 59:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  3. Psalm 59:5 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 13.
  4. Psalm 59:11 Or sovereign