| Psalm 59 | |
| Subtitle: | "Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God" |
| Image Upright: | 1.2 |
| Language: | Hebrew (original) |
Psalm 59 is the 59th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me". In the slightly different numbering system of the Greek Septuagint version of the Bible and the Latin Vulgate, this psalm is Psalm 58. In Latin, it is known as "Eripe me de inimicis meis Deu".[1] [2] It is described as "a prayer composed when Saul sent messengers to wait at the house in order to kill him",[3] and commentator Cyril Rodd describes it as a "vigorous plea for the destruction of the psalmist's enemies".[4]
The psalm forms a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and other Protestant liturgies. It has been set to music.
The following table shows the Hebrew text[5] [6] of the Psalm with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).
| Verse | Hebrew | English translation (JPS 1917) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | For the Leader; Al-tashheth. [A Psalm] of David; Michtam; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him. | |
| 2 | Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God; set me on high from them that rise up against me. | |
| 3 | Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from the men of blood. | |
| 4 | For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul; the impudent gather themselves together against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD. | |
| 5 | Without my fault, they run and prepare themselves; awake Thou to help me, and behold. | |
| 6 | Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, arouse Thyself to punish all the nations; show no mercy to any iniquitous traitors. Selah | |
| 7 | They return at evening, they howl like a dog, and go round about the city. | |
| 8 | Behold, they belch out with their mouth; swords are in their lips: 'For who doth hear?' | |
| 9 | But Thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; Thou shalt have all the nations in derision. | |
| 10 | Because of his strength, I will wait for Thee; for God is my high tower. | |
| 11 | The God of my mercy will come to meet me; God will let me gaze upon mine adversaries. | |
| 12 | Slay them not, lest my people forget, make them wander to and fro by Thy power, and bring them down, O Lord our shield. | |
| 13 | 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. | |
| 14 | Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they be no more; and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob, unto the ends of the earth. Selah | |
| 15 | And they return at evening, they howl like a dog, and go round about the city; | |
| 16 | They wander up and down to devour, and tarry all night if they have not their fill. | |
| 17 | But as for me, I will sing of Thy strength; yea, I will sing aloud of Thy mercy in the morning; for Thou hast been my high tower, and a refuge in the day of my distress. | |
| 18 | O my strength, unto Thee will I sing praises; for God is my high tower, the God of my mercy. | |
To the Chief Musician. Set to "Do Not Destroy". A Michtam of David when Saul sent men, and they watched the house in order to kill him.[7] This text, connected with an incident recorded in Samuel 19:11-17, may be an editorial addition. "Do Not Destroy", or Altaschith, may refer to an ancient song whose tune was to be used in singing the psalms.[8]
Psalm 59 is one of the ten Psalms of the Tikkun HaKlali of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov.[9]
Verse 18 (verse 17 in English translations) is found in the repetition of the Amidah during Rosh Hashanah.[10]
In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, this psalm is appointed to be read on the evening of the 11th day of the month.[11]
Heinrich Schütz set Psalm 59 in a metred version in German, "Hilf, Herre Gott, errette mich", SWV 156, as part of the Becker Psalter, first published in 1628.