Psalm 59

Psalms · Chapter 59

Psalms 59:1

1Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.2Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men.3For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD.4They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold.5Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.6They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.7Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?8But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.9Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.10The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.11Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield.12For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.13Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah.14And at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.15Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied.16But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.17Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
1Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David, when Saul sent men to watch David’s house in order to kill him. Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise against me.For the Chief Musician; set to Al-tashheth. A Psalm of David. Michtam; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him. Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: Set me on high from them that rise up against me.

In context

Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.

Original Hebrew words

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
to the choirmasterלַמְנַצֵּ֣חַlam-na-TZE-achH5329
to conduct

נָצַח (na.tsach) 1) to excel, be bright, be preeminent, be perpetual, be overseer, be enduring 1a) (Niphal) enduring (participle) 1b) (Piel) to act as overseer or superintendent or director or chief Aramaic equivalent: ne.tsach (נְצַח "to distinguish oneself" H5330)

al-אַל־'al-H0516
Do Not Destroy

אַל תַּשְׁחֵת (al tash.chet) § Al-taschith = "do not destroy" (Hiphil) a command to the chief musician, or perhaps the title of a melody used for several Psalms

tashchethתַּשְׁחֵת֮tash-CHETH0516
Do Not Destroy

אַל תַּשְׁחֵת (al tash.chet) § Al-taschith = "do not destroy" (Hiphil) a command to the chief musician, or perhaps the title of a melody used for several Psalms

of Davidלְדָוִ֪דle-da-VIDH1732
David

דָּוִד (da.vid) A king of the tribe of Judah living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at Rut.4.17; son of: Jesse (H3448) and Nahash (H5176I); brother of: Eliab (H0446I), Abinadab (H0041I), Shimeah (H8093), Zeruiah (H6870), Abigail (H0026H)(?), Nethanel (H5417H), Raddai (H7288), Ozem (H0684) and Elihu (H0453J); married to Michal (H4324), Abigail (H0026), Ahinoam (H0293H), Maacah (H4601I), Haggith (H2294), Abital (H0037), Eglah (H5698) and Bathsheba (H1339); …

a miktamמִ֫כְתָּ֥םmikh-TAMH4387
Miktam

מִכְתָּם (mikh.tam) michtam a technical term found in psalm titles meaning uncertain

when sentבִּשְׁלֹ֥חַbish-LO-achH7971G
to send: depart

שָׁלַח (sha.lach) : depart/send 1) to send, send away, let go, stretch out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to send 1a2) to stretch out, extend, direct 1a3) to send away 1a4) to let loose 1b) (Niphal) to be sent 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to send off or away or out or forth, dismiss, give over, cast out 1c2) to let go, set free 1c3) to shoot forth (of branches) 1c4) to let down 1c5) to shoot 1d) (Pual) to be sent off, be put away, be divorced, be impelled 1e) (Hiphil) to send

Saulשָׁא֑וּלsha-'ULH7586G
Saul

שָׁאוּל (sha.ul) A king of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.9.2; son of: Kish (H7027); married to Ahinoam (H0293) and Rizpah (H7532); father of: Jonathan (H3083H), Abinadab (H0041H), Malchi-shua (H4444), Merab (H4764), Michal (H4324), Ish-bosheth (H0378), Armoni (H0764), Mephibosheth (H4648H) § Saul or Shaul = "desired" 1) a Benjamite, son of Kish, and the 1st king of Israel 2) an early king of Edom and a successor of Samlah 3) a son of Simeon 4) a Levite, son of Uzziah

and people watchedוַֽיִּשְׁמְר֥וּvai-yish-me-RUH8104H
to keep: obey

שָׁמַר (sha.mar) : obey/observe 1) to keep, guard, observe, give heed 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to keep, have charge of 1a2) to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life 1a2a) watch, watchman (participle) 1a3) to watch for, wait for 1a4) to watch, observe 1a5) to keep, retain, treasure up (in memory) 1a6) to keep (within bounds), restrain 1a7) to observe, celebrate, keep (sabbath or covenant or commands), perform (vow) 1a8) to keep, preserve, protect 1a9) to keep, reserve 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be on one's guard, take heed, take care, beware 1b2) to keep oneself, refrain, abstain 1b3) to be kept, be guarded …

the houseהַ֝בַּ֗יִתha-BA-yitH1004B
to lodge

בִּית (but) (P'al) to pass the night, lodge Aramaic of ba.yit (בַּ֫יִת ": home" H1004B)

to kill himלַהֲמִיתֽוֹ׃la-ha-mi-TOH4191
to die

מוּת (mut) 1) to die, kill, have one executed 1a)(Qal) 1a1) to die 1a2) to die (as penalty), be put to death 1a3) to die, perish (of a nation) 1a4) to die prematurely (by neglect of wise moral conduct) 1b) (Polel) to kill, put to death, dispatch 1c) (Hiphil) to kill, put to death 1d) (Hophal) 1d1) to be killed, be put to death 1d1a) to die prematurely

deliver meהַצִּילֵ֖נִיha-tzi-LE-niH5337
to rescue

נָצַל (na.tsal) 1) to snatch away, deliver, rescue, save, strip, plunder 1a)(Niphal) 1a1) to tear oneself away, deliver oneself 1a2) to be torn out or away, be delivered 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to strip off, spoil 1b2) to deliver 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to take away, snatch away 1c2) to rescue, recover 1c3) to deliver (from enemies or troubles or death) 1c4) to deliver from sin and guilt 1d) (Hophal) to be plucked out 1e) (Hithpael) to strip oneself Aramaic equivalent: ne.tsal (נְצַל "to rescue" H5338)

from enemies myמֵאֹיְבַ֥י׀me-'o-ye-VAIH0341
enemy

אֹיֵב (o.yev) 1) (Qal) enemy 1a) personal 1b) national

O God myאֱלֹהָ֑י'e-lo-HAIH0430G
God

אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) This name means "gods" (plural intensive-singular meaning), "God" Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)

from [those who] rise up against meמִּמִתְקוֹמְמַ֥יmi-mit-ko-MAIH6965JNo entry
may you set on high meתְּשַׂגְּבֵֽנִי׃te-sa-ge-VE-niH7682
to exalt

שָׂגַב (sa.gav) 1) to be high, be inaccessibly high 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be (too) high (for capture) 1a2) to be high (of prosperity) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be high 1b2) to be set on high, be (safely) set on high 1b3) to be exalted (of God) 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to set on high, set (securely) on high 1c2) to exalt, exalt (in effective hostility) 1d) (Pual) to be set (securely) on high 1e) (Hiphil) to act exaltedly

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.