UST PSA Chapter 59

A psalm written by David for the choir director, when Saul, wanting to kill David, sent men to watch David’s house.

59 God, save me from my enemies!

Protect me from those who want to attack me!

2 Keep me safe from men who want to do what is wicked,

from men who are murderers!

3 Look! They are waiting to kill me!

Fierce men have gathered to assault me.

Yahweh, they are doing that even though I have not done what is wrong!

4 It is not because I have committed any sin against them

that they run and get ready to attack me. Please look at my situation and help me.

5 Yahweh my God, commander of the angel armies, the one we Israelites worship,

arise and punish the people of all the nations who do not honor you;

do not act mercifully toward those wicked people who have acted treacherously toward us.

6 They return each evening,

snarling like vicious dogs as they prowl around this city.

7 They loudly say terrible things;

they say things that destroy as much as swords do,

because they are saying, “No one will hear us!”

8 But Yahweh, you laugh at them.

You scoff at the people of the pagan nations.

9 God, I have confidence in you because you are very strong;

you are my refuge.

10 Because you love me, you will come to save me as you have promised;

you will allow me to watch while you defeat my enemies.

11 But do not kill them immediately;

it is good that my people should not forget how you punished them!

Instead, Lord, you who are like a shield that protects us,

scatter them by your power, and then defeat them.

12 Because what they say is sinful,

allow them to be trapped for being proud.

Because they are always cursing and telling lies,

13 because you are angry, get rid of them;

destroy them completely

so that people will know that you rule over us, your Israelite people,

and that you rule over all the earth.

14 They return each evening,

snarling like vicious dogs as they prowl around this city.

15 They roam around, searching for food

and if they do not find enough, they growl like dogs.

16 But as for me, I will sing about your power;

every morning I will sing joyfully about your faithfully loving us.

I will sing about how you protected me when I was very distressed.

17 God, you are the one who enables me to be strong;

you are my refuge;

you faithfully love me, just as you have promised in your covenant.