Corpus Psalterium · Vol. III
Psalm LIX (59)
Cantillated — Imprecatory Lament Turning
Paul Whitehorn
Study the Word
Psalm 59 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.
For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A poem by David, when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him.
לַמְנַצֵּ֣חַ אַל־תַּשְׁחֵת֮ לְדָוִ֪ד מִ֫כְתָּ֥ם בִּשְׁלֹ֥חַ שָׁא֑וּל וַֽיִּשְׁמְר֥וּ אֶת־הַ֝בַּ֗יִת לַהֲמִיתֽוֹ׃
Deliver me from my enemies, my God. Set me on high from those who rise up against me.
הַצִּילֵ֖נִי מֵאֹיְבַ֥י ׀ אֱלֹהָ֑י מִּמִתְקוֹמְמַ֥י תְּשַׂגְּבֵֽנִי׃
Deliver me from the workers of iniquity. Save me from the bloodthirsty men.
הַ֭צִּילֵנִי מִפֹּ֣עֲלֵי אָ֑וֶן וּֽמֵאַנְשֵׁ֥י דָ֝מִ֗ים הוֹשִׁיעֵֽנִי׃
For, behold, they lie in wait for my soul. The mighty gather themselves together against me, not for my disobedience, nor for my sin, Yahweh.
כִּ֤י הִנֵּ֪ה אָֽרְב֡וּ לְנַפְשִׁ֗י יָג֣וּרוּ עָלַ֣י עַזִ֑ים לֹא־פִשְׁעִ֖י וְלֹא־חַטָּאתִ֣י יְהוָֽה׃
I have done no wrong, yet they are ready to attack me. Rise up, behold, and help me!
בְּֽלִי־עָ֭וֺן יְרוּצ֣וּן וְיִכּוֹנָ֑נוּ ע֖וּרָה לִקְרָאתִ֣י וּרְאֵה׃
You, Yahweh God of Armies, the God of Israel, rouse yourself to punish the nations. Show no mercy to the wicked traitors. Selah.
וְאַתָּ֤ה יְהוָֽה־אֱלֹהִ֥ים ׀ צְבָא֡וֹת אֱלֹ֘הֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל הָקִ֗יצָה לִפְקֹ֥ד כָּֽל־הַגּוֹיִ֑ם אַל־תָּחֹ֨ן כָּל־בֹּ֖גְדֵי אָ֣וֶן סֶֽלָה׃
They return at evening, howling like dogs, and prowl around the city.
יָשׁ֣וּבוּ לָ֭עֶרֶב יֶהֱמ֥וּ כַכָּ֗לֶב וִיס֥וֹבְבוּ עִֽיר׃
Behold, they spew with their mouth. Swords are in their lips, “For”, they say, “who hears us?”
הִנֵּ֤ה ׀ יַבִּ֘יע֤וּן בְּפִיהֶ֗ם חֲ֭רָבוֹת בְּשִׂפְתוֹתֵיהֶ֑ם כִּי־מִ֥י שֹׁמֵֽעַ׃
But you, Yahweh, laugh at them. You scoff at all the nations.
וְאַתָּ֣ה יְ֭הוָה תִּשְׂחַק־לָ֑מוֹ תִּ֝לְעַ֗ג לְכָל־גּוֹיִֽם׃
Oh, my Strength, I watch for you, for God is my high tower.
עֻ֭זּוֹ אֵלֶ֣יךָ אֶשְׁמֹ֑רָה כִּֽי־אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים מִשְׂגַּבִּֽי׃
My God will go before me with his loving kindness. God will let me look at my enemies in triumph.
אֱלֹהֵ֣י חסדו יְקַדְּמֵ֑נִי אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים יַרְאֵ֥נִי בְשֹׁרְרָֽי׃
Don’t kill them, or my people may forget. Scatter them by your power, and bring them down, Lord our shield.
אַל־תַּהַרְגֵ֤ם ׀ פֶּֽן־יִשְׁכְּח֬וּ עַמִּ֗י הֲנִיעֵ֣מוֹ בְ֭חֵילְךָ וְהוֹרִידֵ֑מוֹ מָֽגִנֵּ֣נוּ אֲדֹנָֽי׃
For the sin of their mouth, and the words of their lips, let them be caught in their pride, for the curses and lies which they utter.
חַטַּאת־פִּ֗ימוֹ דְּֽבַר־שְׂפָ֫תֵ֥ימוֹ וְיִלָּכְד֥וּ בִגְאוֹנָ֑ם וּמֵאָלָ֖ה וּמִכַּ֣חַשׁ יְסַפֵּֽרוּ׃
Consume them in wrath. Consume them, and they will be no more. Let them know that God rules in Jacob, to the ends of the earth. Selah.
כַּלֵּ֥ה בְחֵמָה֮ כַּלֵּ֪ה וְֽאֵ֫ינֵ֥מוֹ וְֽיֵדְע֗וּ כִּֽי־אֱ֭לֹהִים מֹשֵׁ֣ל בְּיַעֲקֹ֑ב לְאַפְסֵ֖י הָאָ֣רֶץ סֶֽלָה׃
At evening let them return. Let them howl like a dog, and go around the city.
וְיָשׁ֣וּבוּ לָ֭עֶרֶב יֶהֱמ֥וּ כַכָּ֗לֶב וִיס֥וֹבְבוּ עִֽיר׃
They shall wander up and down for food, and wait all night if they aren’t satisfied.
הֵ֭מָּה ינועון לֶאֱכֹ֑ל אִם־לֹ֥א יִ֝שְׂבְּע֗וּ וַיָּלִֽינוּ׃
But I will sing of your strength. Yes, I will sing aloud of your loving kindness in the morning. For you have been my high tower, a refuge in the day of my distress.
וַאֲנִ֤י ׀ אָשִׁ֣יר עֻזֶּךָ֮ וַאֲרַנֵּ֥ן לַבֹּ֗קֶר חַ֫סְדֶּ֥ךָ כִּֽי־הָיִ֣יתָ מִשְׂגָּ֣ב לִ֑י וּ֝מָנ֗וֹס בְּי֣וֹם צַר־לִֽי׃
To you, my strength, I will sing praises. For God is my high tower, the God of my mercy.
עֻ֭זִּי אֵלֶ֣יךָ אֲזַמֵּ֑רָה כִּֽי־אֱלֹהִ֥ים מִ֝שְׂגַּבִּ֗י אֱלֹהֵ֥י חַסְדִּֽי׃
Hebrew: Westminster Leningrad Codex (public domain), from the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible. English: World English Bible (public domain). Verse numbers follow the English Bible; the Hebrew numbering is shown beneath where it differs.
Deliver me
from my enemies, my God
Set me high
above those who rise
Deliver me
from workers of evil
From men of blood
save me
They lie in wait
for my soul
The strong gather
against me
Not my transgression
not my sin
Without fault
they run and prepare
Awake to meet me
and see
O Lord God of hosts
God of Israel
Rise up
to visit the nations
You are my fortress
my God
You laugh at them
You see
You are my strength
my God
My refuge
in trouble
They return at evening
they howl like dogs
They circle the city
they speak with swords
Words from their lips
who hears
But You, O Lord
laugh at them
You mock
the nations
My strength
I watch for You
God is my fortress
my God of mercy
God will meet me
before my enemies
You are my fortress
my God
You stand before me
You see
You are my strength
my God
My refuge
in trouble
Do not kill them
lest my people forget
Make them wander
bring them down
Our shield
O Lord
For the sin of their mouth
their words
Let them be taken
in pride
Consume them
consume them
You are my fortress
my God
You rule over Jacob
to the ends of earth
You are my strength
my God
My refuge
in trouble
But I will sing
of Your strength
I will sing aloud
of Your mercy
In the morning
For You have been
my fortress
My refuge
in the day of trouble
My strength
to You I sing
My God
my mercy
Lyrics by Paul Whitehorn: a singable English rendering of the Hebrew, as sung on this recording.
Corpus Psalterium sets each psalm to music by its Hebrew grammar. Didactic psalms teach; Cantillated psalms are spoken, sung or performed before God. Hear all 150 psalms free.