Old Testament · Poetry

Psalm 59

Deliver Me from My Enemies

Saul's men surround David's house. They prowl like dogs at night. David meets their menace with a song.

King James Version BSB KJV

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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.

Understand This

Psalm 59, explained

What Psalm 59 is saying

A lament psalm with striking animal imagery, Psalm 59 depicts enemies as prowling dogs that circle the city at evening, snarling and howling. The repeated refrain of God laughing at the nations (v. 8) introduces a note of divine mockery reminiscent of Psalm 2. The psalmist requests that God not destroy the enemies immediately but scatter them as a lasting testimony, then moves to confident praise of God as fortress (misgav) and refuge.

The background behind it

The superscription connects this to Saul's surveillance of David's house (1 Samuel 19:11), when Michal helped David escape through a window. The nocturnal setting and imagery of circling predators fits this narrative of besieged domestic space.

Themes running underneath

The psalm presents a sophisticated theology of divine justice—the request to scatter rather than immediately destroy suggests that prolonged judgment serves as a more effective witness to God's sovereignty. The fortress imagery (misgav) emphasizes that security is found not in walls but in God's character.

Why it still matters

The psalm's request for measured rather than instant justice challenges simplistic notions of divine retribution. It models patience in allowing God's timing and methods to accomplish purposes beyond the petitioner's immediate relief.

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Scripture text: King James Version — public domain.