Night in a narrow lane: a plain stone house with one lamplit small window, and across the lane in the dark two armed men standing still and watching it, under a deep calm sky.

Lament · David

Psalm 59

Men are outside the house, waiting for morning to kill him. A prayer for the nights when trouble is at the door.

17 verses≈ 3 min1 personBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

Tap any post to go deeper

In this chapter

Where we are

1–41Book IDavid's prayers: 'The LORD is my shepherd'
42–72Book II'As the deer pants'; the throne under pressurePsalm 59
73–89Book IIIAsaph and Korah: the kingdom falls
90–106Book IVBack to Moses: the LORD reigns
107–150Book VSongs of ascents, and the last Hallelujah

Deliver Me from My Enemies

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.

Deliver me from workers of iniquity,

and save me from men of bloodshed.

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

See how they lie in wait for me.

Fierce men conspire against me

for no transgression or sin of my own, O LORD.

For no fault of my own,

they move swiftly to attack me.

Arise to help me, and take notice.

An immense clear night of stars above the dark flat roofs of a small hill town, the Milky Way bright and countless.

O LORD God of Hosts, the God of Israel,

rouse Yourself to punish all the nations;

show no mercy to the wicked traitors.

Selah

Dusk under a town wall: four lean, half-wild pariah dogs trotting along its foot, heads low, one snarling back over its shoulder.

They return in the evening, snarling like dogs

and prowling around the city.

See what they spew from their mouths—

sharp words from their lips:

“For who can hear us?”

Question

Quick question

Listen to how the boast is answered.

The men outside ask, “For who can hear us?” What is the answer in the next line?

A great isolated outcrop of pale rock rising from the desert hills, David's men in plain dark wool hurrying down a steep path toward its shadow with packs and spears.

I will keep watch for You, O my strength,

because You, O God, are my fortress.

My God of loving devotion will come to meet me;

God will let me stare down my foes.

From a high bare place, ridge beyond ridge of the land going out to a far pale horizon of sea, enormous and empty at clear midday.

Do not kill them,

or my people will forget.

Scatter them by Your power,

and bring them down,

O Lord, our shield.

By the sins of their mouths

and the words of their lips,

let them be trapped in their pride,

in the curses and lies they utter.

Consume them in wrath;

consume them till they are no more,

so it may be known to the ends of the earth

that God rules over Jacob.

Selah

0:26

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

They return in the evening,

snarling like dogs

and prowling around the city.

They scavenge for food,

and growl if they are not satisfied.

The same evening, twice

Whiteboard

The dogs don’t change. What comes after them does.

First light in the same narrow lane: the watchers gone, a plain door standing shut and calm, an empty street, sun touching the top of the wall.

But I will sing of Your strength

and proclaim Your loving devotion in the morning.

For You are my fortress,

my refuge in times of trouble.

To You, O my strength, I sing praises,

for You, O God, are my fortress,

my God of loving devotion.

Pray

The night ahead

If you are afraid of tonight, or of tomorrow, tell God exactly what is at the door. Then call Him what David called Him: “my refuge in times of trouble.”

You’ve experienced

Psalm 59

0 of 150 psalms read

A verse to carry with you

But I will sing of Your strength and proclaim Your loving devotion in the morning. For You are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.

Psalm 59:16

or swipe left