The Bible — World English Bible
Psalm 59
In brief
Psalm 59 is a psalm of David whose title places it at the moment Saul sent men to watch his house in order to kill him. He asks God to deliver him from violent men who lie in wait. He describes their lying words and their relentless pursuit, compared to dogs prowling around the city at night. He ends with a song: God is his strength, his high tower and his refuge in the day of distress.
The chapter in 4 parts
1Deliver me from my enemies, my God. Set me on high from those who rise up against me.
2Deliver me from the workers of iniquity. Save me from the bloodthirsty men.
3For, behold, they lie in wait for my soul. The mighty gather themselves together against me, not for my disobedience, nor for my sin, Yahweh.
4I have done no wrong, yet they are ready to attack me. Rise up, behold, and help me!
5You, Yahweh God of Armies, the God of Israel, rouse yourself to punish the nations. Show no mercy to the wicked traitors.
6They return at evening, howling like dogs, and prowl around the city.
7Behold, they spew with their mouth. Swords are in their lips, “For”, they say, “who hears us?”
8But you, Yahweh, laugh at them. You scoff at all the nations.
9Oh, my Strength, I watch for you, for God is my high tower.
10My God will go before me with his loving kindness. God will let me look at my enemies in triumph.
11Don’t kill them, or my people may forget. Scatter them by your power, and bring them down, Lord our shield.
12For the sin of their mouth, and the words of their lips, let them be caught in their pride, for the curses and lies which they utter.
13Consume them in wrath. Consume them, and they will be no more. Let them know that God rules in Jacob, to the ends of the earth.
14At evening let them return. Let them howl like a dog, and go around the city.
15They shall wander up and down for food, and wait all night if they aren’t satisfied.
16But I will sing of your strength. Yes, I will sing aloud of your loving kindness in the morning. For you have been my high tower, a refuge in the day of my distress.
17To you, my strength, I will sing praises. For God is my high tower, the God of my mercy.
Key verses
Deliver me from my enemies, my God. Set me on high from those who rise up against me.
The title ties the psalm to the story of David and Saul. David begins with an appeal to God rather than a plan of escape.
For, behold, they lie in wait for my soul. The mighty gather themselves together against me, not for my disobedience, nor for my sin, Yahweh.
David states that he has done no wrong to those pursuing him. He can lean on a clear conscience as he pleads with God.
But I will sing of your strength. Yes, I will sing aloud of your loving kindness in the morning. For you have been my high tower, a refuge in the day of my distress.
Facing the night of threats, David looks ahead to the morning song: he decides to celebrate God's strength and kindness even before the situation changes.
To you, my strength, I will sing praises. For God is my high tower, the God of my mercy.
The psalm ends by repeating that God is David's strength and high tower. Trust takes the place of fear.
Test your knowledge
Frequently asked questions about Psalm 59
What does Psalm 59 mean?
Psalm 59 is the prayer of a hunted man who asks God to act and chooses to praise him in advance. David describes violent and deceitful enemies, then sets the morning song against their howling in the night. God is his strength, his high tower and his refuge in the day of distress.
Who wrote Psalm 59?
The title attributes it to David and places it when Saul sent men to watch his house to kill him. The story is told in the first book of Samuel. The psalm is a prayer of deliverance that later believers have used whenever they felt surrounded.
How can I pray or meditate on Psalm 59?
When something weighs on you, read verses 1 to 3 aloud, entrusting your situation to God. Some passages that ask for the destruction of enemies are harsh: you can read them as placing justice in God's hands. Finish with verses 16 and 17, singing of his strength from the morning.
World English Bible translation — public domain.