Psalms 59

Deliver me from my enemies

Deliver me from my enemies, O God; be my fortress against those who are attacking me.a ²Deliver me from evildoers and save me from those who are after my blood. ³See how they lie in wait for me! Fierce men conspire against me for no offense or sin of mine, Lord.

⁴I have done no wrong, yet they are ready to attack me. Arise to help me; look on my plight! ⁵You, Lord God Almighty, you who are the God of Israel, rouse yourself to punish all the nations; show no mercy to wicked traitors. ⁶They return at evening, snarling like dogs, and prowl about the city.

⁷See what they spew from their mouths— the words from their lips are sharp as swords, and they think, “Who can hear us?” ⁸But you laugh at them, Lord; you scoff at all those nations. ⁹You are my strength, I watch for you; you, God, are my fortress, ¹⁰my God on whom I can rely. God will go before me and will let me gloat over those who slander me.

¹¹But do not kill them, Lord our shield, or my people will forget. In your might uproot them and bring them down. ¹²For the sins of their mouths, for the words of their lips, let them be caught in their pride. For the curses and lies they utter, ¹³consume them in your wrath, consume them till they are no more. Then it will be known to the ends of the earth that God rules over Jacob.

¹⁴They return at evening, snarling like dogs, and prowl about the city. ¹⁵They wander about for food and howl if not satisfied. ¹⁶But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.b

¹⁷You are my strength, I sing praise to you; you, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely.c