Psalms 59:3-15
Psalms 59:3-15 The Message (MSG)
Desperadoes have ganged up on me, they’re hiding in ambush for me. I did nothing to deserve this, GOD, crossed no one, wronged no one. All the same, they’re after me, determined to get me. Wake up and see for yourself! You’re GOD, GOD-of-Angel-Armies, Israel’s God! Get on the job and take care of these pagans, don’t be soft on these hard cases. They return when the sun goes down, They howl like coyotes, ringing the city. Then suddenly they’re all at the gate, Snarling invective, drawn daggers in their teeth. They think they’ll never get caught. But you, GOD, break out laughing; you treat the godless nations like jokes. Strong God, I’m watching you do it, I can always count on you. God in dependable love shows up on time, shows me my enemies in ruin. Don’t make quick work of them, GOD, lest my people forget. Bring them down in slow motion, take them apart piece by piece. Let all their mean-mouthed arrogance catch up with them, Catch them out and bring them down —every muttered curse —every barefaced lie. Finish them off in fine style! Finish them off for good! Then all the world will see that God rules well in Jacob, everywhere that God’s in charge. They return when the sun goes down, They howl like coyotes, ringing the city. They scavenge for bones, And bite the hand that feeds them.
Psalms 59:3-15 King James Version (KJV)
For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: The mighty are gathered against me; Not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD. They run and prepare themselves without my fault. Awake to help me, and behold. Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, Awake to visit all the heathen: Be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah. They return at evening: They make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city. Behold, they belch out with their mouth: Swords are in their lips: For who, say they, doth hear? But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; Thou shalt have all the heathen in derision. Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: For God is my defence. The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies. Slay them not, lest my people forget: Scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield. 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. Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: And let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah. And at evening let them return; And let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city. Let them wander up and down for meat, And grudge if they be not satisfied.
Psalms 59:3-15 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
For behold, they have set an ambush for my life; Fierce men launch an attack against me, Not for my transgression nor for my sin, O LORD, For no guilt of mine, they run and set themselves against me. Arouse Yourself to help me, and see! You, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, Awake to punish all the nations; Do not be gracious to any who are treacherous in iniquity. Selah. They return at evening, they howl like a dog, And go around the city. Behold, they belch forth with their mouth; Swords are in their lips, For, they say, “Who hears?” But You, O LORD, laugh at them; You scoff at all the nations. Because of his strength I will watch for You, For God is my stronghold. My God in His lovingkindness will meet me; God will let me look triumphantly upon my foes. Do not slay them, or my people will forget; Scatter them by Your power, and bring them down, O Lord, our shield. On account of the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips, Let them even be caught in their pride, And on account of curses and lies which they utter. Destroy them in wrath, destroy them that they may be no more; That men may know that God rules in Jacob To the ends of the earth. Selah. They return at evening, they howl like a dog, And go around the city. They wander about for food And growl if they are not satisfied.
Psalms 59:3-15 New Century Version (NCV)
Look, they are waiting to ambush me. Cruel people attack me, but I have not sinned or done wrong, LORD. I have done nothing wrong, but they are ready to attack me. Wake up to help me, and look. You are the LORD God All-Powerful, the God of Israel. Arise and punish those people. Do not give those traitors any mercy. Selah They come back at night. Like dogs they growl and roam around the city. Notice what comes from their mouths. Insults come from their lips, because they say, “Who’s listening?” But, LORD, you laugh at them; you make fun of all of them. God, my strength, I am looking to you, because God is my defender. My God loves me, and he goes in front of me. He will help me defeat my enemies. Lord, our protector, do not kill them, or my people will forget. With your power scatter them and defeat them. They sin by what they say; they sin with their words. They curse and tell lies, so let their pride trap them. Destroy them in your anger; destroy them completely! Then they will know that God rules over Israel and to the ends of the earth.Selah They come back at night. Like dogs they growl and roam around the city. They wander about looking for food, and they howl if they do not find enough.
Psalms 59:3-15 American Standard Version (ASV)
For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul; The mighty gather themselves together against me: Not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O Jehovah. They run and prepare themselves without my fault: Awake thou to help me, and behold. Even thou, O Jehovah God of hosts, the God of Israel, Arise to visit all the nations: Be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. [Selah They return at evening, they howl like a dog, And go round about the city. Behold, they belch out with their mouth; Swords are in their lips: For who, say they, doth hear? But thou, O Jehovah, wilt laugh at them; Thou wilt have all the nations in derision. Because of his strength I will give heed unto thee; For God is my high tower. My God with his lovingkindness will meet me: God will let me see my desire upon mine enemies. Slay them not, lest my people forget: Scatter them by thy power, and bring them down, O Lord our shield. 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. Consume them in wrath, consume them, so that they shall be no more: And let them know that God ruleth in Jacob, Unto the ends of the earth. [Selah And at evening let them return, let them howl like a dog, And go round about the city. They shall wander up and down for food, And tarry all night if they be not satisfied.
Psalms 59:3-15 New International Version (NIV)
See how they lie in wait for me! Fierce men conspire against me for no offense or sin of mine, LORD. I have done no wrong, yet they are ready to attack me. Arise to help me; look on my plight! You, LORD God Almighty, you who are the God of Israel, rouse yourself to punish all the nations; show no mercy to wicked traitors. They return at evening, snarling like dogs, and prowl about the city. See what they spew from their mouths— the words from their lips are sharp as swords, and they think, “Who can hear us?” But you laugh at them, LORD; you scoff at all those nations. You are my strength, I watch for you; you, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely. God will go before me and will let me gloat over those who slander me. But do not kill them, Lord our shield, or my people will forget. In your might uproot them and bring them down. For 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, consume 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. They return at evening, snarling like dogs, and prowl about the city. They wander about for food and howl if not satisfied.
Psalms 59:3-15 New King James Version (NKJV)
For look, they lie in wait for my life; The mighty gather against me, Not for my transgression nor for my sin, O LORD. They run and prepare themselves through no fault of mine. Awake to help me, and behold! You therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, Awake to punish all the nations; Do not be merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah At evening they return, They growl like a dog, And go all around the city. Indeed, they belch with their mouth; Swords are in their lips; For they say, “Who hears?” But You, O LORD, shall laugh at them; You shall have all the nations in derision. I will wait for You, O You his Strength; For God is my defense. My God of mercy shall come to meet me; God shall let me see my desire on my enemies. Do not slay them, lest my people forget; Scatter them by Your power, And bring them down, O Lord our shield. For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips, Let them even be taken in their pride, And for the cursing and lying which they speak. Consume them in wrath, consume them, That they may not be; And let them know that God rules in Jacob To the ends of the earth. Selah And at evening they return, They growl like a dog, And go all around the city. They wander up and down for food, And howl if they are not satisfied.
Psalms 59:3-15 Amplified Bible (AMP)
Look! They lie in wait for my life; Fierce and powerful men [are uniting together to] launch an attack against me, Not for my wrongdoing nor for any sin of mine, O LORD. They run and set themselves against me though there is no guilt in me; Stir Yourself to meet and help me, and see [what they are doing]! You, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, Arise to punish all the nations; Spare no one and do not be merciful to any who treacherously plot evil. Selah. They return at evening, they howl and snarl like dogs, And go [prowling] around the city. Look how they belch out [insults] with their mouths; Swords [of sarcasm, ridicule, slander, and lies] are in their lips, For they say, “Who hears us?” But You, O LORD, will laugh at them [in scorn]; You scoff at and deride all the nations. ¶O [God] my strength, I will watch for You; For God is my stronghold [my refuge, my protector, my high tower]. My God in His [steadfast] lovingkindness will meet me; God will let me look triumphantly on my enemies [who lie in wait for me]. Do not kill them, or my people will forget; Scatter them and make them wander [endlessly] back and forth by Your power, and bring them down, O Lord our shield! For the sin of their mouths and the words of their lips, Let them even be trapped in their pride, And on account of the curses and lies which they tell. Destroy them in wrath, destroy them so that they may be no more; Let them know that God rules over Jacob (Israel) To the ends of the earth. Selah. They return at evening, they howl and snarl like dogs, And go [prowling] around the city. They wander around for food [to devour] And growl all night if they are not satisfied.
Psalms 59:3-15 New Living Translation (NLT)
They have set an ambush for me. Fierce enemies are out there waiting, LORD, though I have not sinned or offended them. I have done nothing wrong, yet they prepare to attack me. Wake up! See what is happening and help me! O LORD God of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, wake up and punish those hostile nations. Show no mercy to wicked traitors. Interlude They come out at night, snarling like vicious dogs as they prowl the streets. Listen to the filth that comes from their mouths; their words cut like swords. “After all, who can hear us?” they sneer. But LORD, you laugh at them. You scoff at all the hostile nations. You are my strength; I wait for you to rescue me, for you, O God, are my fortress. In his unfailing love, my God will stand with me. He will let me look down in triumph on all my enemies. Don’t kill them, for my people soon forget such lessons; stagger them with your power, and bring them to their knees, O Lord our shield. Because of the sinful things they say, because of the evil that is on their lips, let them be captured by their pride, their curses, and their lies. Destroy them in your anger! Wipe them out completely! Then the whole world will know that God reigns in Israel. Interlude My enemies come out at night, snarling like vicious dogs as they prowl the streets. They scavenge for food but go to sleep unsatisfied.
Psalms 59:3-15 The Passion Translation (TPT)
See how they set an ambush for my life. They’re fierce men ready to launch their attack against me. O Lord, I’m innocent; protect me! I’ve done nothing to deserve this, yet they are already plotting together to kill me. Arise, Lord, see what they’re scheming, and come and meet with me. Awaken, O God of Israel! Commander of Angel Armies, arise to punish these treacherous people who oppose you! Don’t go soft on these hard-core killers! Pause in his presence After dark they came to spy, sneaking around the city, snarling, prowling like a pack of stray dogs in the night— boiling over with rage, shouting out their curses, convinced that they’ll never get caught. But you, Lord, break out laughing at their plans, amused by their arrogance, scoffing at their sinful ways. My strength is found when I wait upon you. Watch over me, God, for you are my mountain fortress; you set me on high! The God of passionate love will meet with me. My God will empower me to rise in triumph over my foes. Don’t kill them; stagger them all with a vivid display of power and scatter them with your armies of angels, O mighty God, our protector! Use your awesome power to make them wanderers and vagabonds and then bring them down. They are nothing but proud, cursing liars. They sin in every word they speak, boasting in their blasphemies! May your wrath be kindled to destroy them; finish them off! Make an end of them and their deeds until they are no more! Let them all know and learn that God is the ruler over Jacob, the God-King over all the earth! Pause in his presence Here they come again— prowling, growling like a pack of stray dogs in the city. Drifting, devouring, and coming in for the kill, they refuse to sleep until they’ve eaten their fill.
Psalms 59:3-15 English Standard Version 2016 (ESV)
For behold, they lie in wait for my life; fierce men stir up strife against me. For no transgression or sin of mine, O LORD, for no fault of mine, they run and make ready. Awake, come to meet me, and see! You, LORD God of hosts, are God of Israel. Rouse yourself to punish all the nations; spare none of those who treacherously plot evil. Selah Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city. There they are, bellowing with their mouths with swords in their lips— for “Who,” they think, “will hear us?” But you, O LORD, laugh at them; you hold all the nations in derision. O my Strength, I will watch for you, for you, O God, are my fortress. My God in his steadfast love will meet me; God will let me look in triumph on my enemies. Kill them not, lest my people forget; make them totter by your power and bring them down, O Lord, our shield! For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips, let them be trapped in their pride. For the cursing and lies that they utter, consume them in wrath; consume them till they are no more, that they may know that God rules over Jacob to the ends of the earth. Selah Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city. They wander about for food and growl if they do not get their fill.