For the music director; according to the al-tashcheth style; 2 a prayer 3 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 me 5 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 stalk 10 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 punish 16 all the nations!
Have no mercy on any treacherous evildoers! (Selah)
59:6 They return in the evening;
they growl 17 like a dog
and prowl around outside 18 the city.
59:7 Look, they hurl insults at me
and openly threaten to kill me, 19
for they say, 20
“Who hears?”
59:8 But you, O Lord, laugh in disgust at them; 21
you taunt 22 all the nations.
59:9 You are my source of strength! I will wait for you! 23
For God is my refuge. 24
59:10 The God who loves me will help me; 25
God will enable me to triumph over 26 my enemies. 27
59:11 Do not strike them dead suddenly,
because then my people might forget the lesson. 28
Use your power to make them homeless vagabonds and then bring them down,
O Lord who shields us! 29
59:12 They speak sinful words. 30
So let them be trapped by their own pride
and by the curses and lies they speak!
59:13 Angrily wipe them out! Wipe them out so they vanish!
Let them know that God rules
in Jacob and to the ends of the earth! (Selah)
59:14 They return in the evening;
they growl 31 like a dog
and prowl around outside 32 the city.
59:15 They wander around looking for something to eat;
they refuse to sleep until they are full. 33
59:16 As for me, I will sing about your strength;
I will praise your loyal love in the morning.
For you are my refuge 34
and my place of shelter when I face trouble. 35
59:17 You are my source of strength! I will sing praises to you! 36
For God is my refuge, 37 the God who loves me. 38
For the music director; according to the shushan-eduth style; 40 a prayer 41 of David written to instruct others. 42 It was written when he fought against Aram Naharaim and Aram-Zobah. That was when Joab turned back and struck down 43 12,000 Edomites 44 in the Valley of Salt. 45
60:1 O God, you have rejected us. 46
You suddenly turned on us in your anger. 47
Please restore us! 48
60:2 You made the earth quake; you split it open. 49
Repair its breaches, for it is ready to fall. 50
60:3 You have made your people experience hard times; 51
you have made us drink intoxicating wine. 52
60:4 You have given your loyal followers 53 a rallying flag,
so that they might seek safety from the bow. 54 (Selah)
60:5 Deliver by your power 55 and answer me, 56
so that the ones you love may be safe. 57
60:6 God has spoken in his sanctuary: 58
“I will triumph! I will parcel out Shechem;
the Valley of Succoth I will measure off. 59
60:7 Gilead belongs to me,
as does Manasseh! 60
Ephraim is my helmet, 61
Judah my royal scepter. 62
60:8 Moab is my washbasin. 63
I will make Edom serve me. 64
I will shout in triumph over Philistia.” 65
60:9 Who will lead me into the fortified city?
Who will bring me to Edom? 66
60:10 Have you not rejected us, O God?
O God, you do not go into battle with our armies.
60:11 Give us help against the enemy,
for any help men might offer is futile. 67
60:12 By God’s power we will conquer; 68
he will trample down 69 our enemies.