Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.
Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men.
For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O Lord.
They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold.
Thou therefore, O Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.
They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?
But thou, O Lord, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.
Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.
The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.
Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield.
For 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.
Consume 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.
And at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied.
But 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.
Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.
Psalms 59 is a powerful prayer for rescue from enemies, a theme prevalent in many of David's psalms (Psalm 3:1–3; 7:1–2; 54:1–2). This particular psalm arises from a specific incident recorded in 1 Samuel 19:11–16, where King Saul, consumed by jealousy, sent assassins to David's house to kill him. David's wife, Michal, Saul's daughter, bravely helped him escape through a window, foiling the assassination plot. Because David calls upon God to judge the wicked, this psalm is considered one of the "imprecatory" psalms, a category that includes Psalms 5, 10, 58, 69, 83, 109, 137, and 140.
A Prayer for Rescue (Psalms 59:1-2)
David begins by urgently imploring God to deliver him from his adversaries. He describes them as "bloodthirsty" (Psalm 59:2), highlighting their violent and evil intentions. David frequently found himself in perilous situations (1 Samuel 17:34–35, 48–49; 19:8; 2 Samuel 15:13–14). Yet, his consistent response was to trust in God and rely on His power (Psalm 3:1–3; 35:1–2; 54:1–3). This plea for rescue sets the stage for the vivid description of his enemies' actions that follows.
The Wicked Plot Unveiled (Psalms 59:3-7)
David vividly portrays his enemies as behaving like feral dogs, prowling in packs under the cover of night, waiting to ambush unsuspecting prey. He emphasizes that their plot is rooted in lies and malice, asserting his innocence and lack of provocation (1 Samuel 20:1–3). "There was, in fact, no fault in David (Psalms 59:4)." Their words are laced with violence, and they act with arrogance, seemingly believing they will face no consequences for their wicked deeds. They waited to ambush him, but not because he was guilty of any rebellion (Psalms 59:3). He was in danger solely because Saul was consumed by jealousy.
Confidence in God's Sovereignty (Psalms 59:8-10)
Despite the looming threat, David shifts his focus from his enemies to an expression of unwavering faith in God's ultimate control. He refers to God as his "strength" (Psalms 59:9) and anticipates the victory that is certain to come. David's assurance is grounded in the Lord's past faithfulness in preserving his life (1 Samuel 17:34–35, 48–49). He chooses to trust in God's loyal and consistent love, rather than succumbing to fear. David had confidence that the Lord would laugh at their attempts (Psalms 59:8). God was David’s impregnable fortress, his stronghold (Psalms 59:9).
A Call for Justice and Remembrance (Psalms 59:11-13)
David doesn't simply pray for personal deliverance; he asks God to make an example of these enemies. Knowing Israel's tendency to forget or ignore God's interventions (Judges 2:16–19), he hopes that their conspiracy will be exposed and crushed, preventing them from being completely destroyed. As with other imprecatory passages, David isn't seeking personal revenge. Instead, he trusts that God (Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19) will administer retribution. He asks God to defeat the wicked men (Psalms 59:11-13)—not merely so that he would be delivered—but so that people will know throughout the earth that God rules over Jacob (Psalms 59:13). He wanted God’s glory to be acknowledged everywhere.
From Snarling Enemies to Joyful Praise (Psalms 59:14-17)
The psalm concludes with a striking contrast: the animalistic, evil noises of David's enemies compared to his own singing of praise. He remained determined to joyfully proclaim God’s faithful love every morning (Psalms 59:16). This is a good way to begin your day—looking to God’s faithful love to provide you with strength to make it through the next twenty-four hours. The faithful God is your strength (Psalms 59:17). David anticipates being rescued from this danger and worshipping God once more, declaring God as his fortress and refuge in times of trouble.
It’s easy to be consumed with fear and anxiety when confronted with dreadful circumstances. To whom will you look when you are faced with a problem that’s too powerful for you? Look to the omnipotent “LORD God of Armies” (Psalms 59:5). He alone can override your negative circumstances so that “all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purposes” (Rom 8:28).
Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.
Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men.
For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O Lord.
They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold.
Thou therefore, O Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.
They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?
But thou, O Lord, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.
Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.
The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.
Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield.
For 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.
Consume 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.
And at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied.
But 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.
Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.
Psalms 59 is a powerful prayer for rescue from enemies, a theme prevalent in many of David's psalms (Psalm 3:1–3; 7:1–2; 54:1–2). This particular psalm arises from a specific incident recorded in 1 Samuel 19:11–16, where King Saul, consumed by jealousy, sent assassins to David's house to kill him. David's wife, Michal, Saul's daughter, bravely helped him escape through a window, foiling the assassination plot. Because David calls upon God to judge the wicked, this psalm is considered one of the "imprecatory" psalms, a category that includes Psalms 5, 10, 58, 69, 83, 109, 137, and 140.
A Prayer for Rescue (Psalms 59:1-2)
David begins by urgently imploring God to deliver him from his adversaries. He describes them as "bloodthirsty" (Psalm 59:2), highlighting their violent and evil intentions. David frequently found himself in perilous situations (1 Samuel 17:34–35, 48–49; 19:8; 2 Samuel 15:13–14). Yet, his consistent response was to trust in God and rely on His power (Psalm 3:1–3; 35:1–2; 54:1–3). This plea for rescue sets the stage for the vivid description of his enemies' actions that follows.
The Wicked Plot Unveiled (Psalms 59:3-7)
David vividly portrays his enemies as behaving like feral dogs, prowling in packs under the cover of night, waiting to ambush unsuspecting prey. He emphasizes that their plot is rooted in lies and malice, asserting his innocence and lack of provocation (1 Samuel 20:1–3). "There was, in fact, no fault in David (Psalms 59:4)." Their words are laced with violence, and they act with arrogance, seemingly believing they will face no consequences for their wicked deeds. They waited to ambush him, but not because he was guilty of any rebellion (Psalms 59:3). He was in danger solely because Saul was consumed by jealousy.
Confidence in God's Sovereignty (Psalms 59:8-10)
Despite the looming threat, David shifts his focus from his enemies to an expression of unwavering faith in God's ultimate control. He refers to God as his "strength" (Psalms 59:9) and anticipates the victory that is certain to come. David's assurance is grounded in the Lord's past faithfulness in preserving his life (1 Samuel 17:34–35, 48–49). He chooses to trust in God's loyal and consistent love, rather than succumbing to fear. David had confidence that the Lord would laugh at their attempts (Psalms 59:8). God was David’s impregnable fortress, his stronghold (Psalms 59:9).
A Call for Justice and Remembrance (Psalms 59:11-13)
David doesn't simply pray for personal deliverance; he asks God to make an example of these enemies. Knowing Israel's tendency to forget or ignore God's interventions (Judges 2:16–19), he hopes that their conspiracy will be exposed and crushed, preventing them from being completely destroyed. As with other imprecatory passages, David isn't seeking personal revenge. Instead, he trusts that God (Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19) will administer retribution. He asks God to defeat the wicked men (Psalms 59:11-13)—not merely so that he would be delivered—but so that people will know throughout the earth that God rules over Jacob (Psalms 59:13). He wanted God’s glory to be acknowledged everywhere.
From Snarling Enemies to Joyful Praise (Psalms 59:14-17)
The psalm concludes with a striking contrast: the animalistic, evil noises of David's enemies compared to his own singing of praise. He remained determined to joyfully proclaim God’s faithful love every morning (Psalms 59:16). This is a good way to begin your day—looking to God’s faithful love to provide you with strength to make it through the next twenty-four hours. The faithful God is your strength (Psalms 59:17). David anticipates being rescued from this danger and worshipping God once more, declaring God as his fortress and refuge in times of trouble.
It’s easy to be consumed with fear and anxiety when confronted with dreadful circumstances. To whom will you look when you are faced with a problem that’s too powerful for you? Look to the omnipotent “LORD God of Armies” (Psalms 59:5). He alone can override your negative circumstances so that “all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purposes” (Rom 8:28).