The big picture
Psalms 59 opens in verse 1 with “Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.”, reaches its middle movement near verse 9 with “Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.”, and closes in verse 17 with “Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, defence, mercy, sing, awake. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Psalms · King James Version · 17Psalms 59:1-6
1–6: Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up…
Psalms 59:1–6 opens with “Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.” and reaches “They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 59 develops its own movement around LORD, defence, mercy, sing, awake, with particular weight carried by awake, Deliver, LORD.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.” Naming Deliver keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Psalms 59:1-6
King James Version1Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.
2Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men.
3For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD .
4They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold.
5Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.
6They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
Psalms 59:7-12
7–12: Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for…
Psalms 59:7–12 opens with “Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?” and reaches “For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 59 develops its own movement around LORD, defence, mercy, sing, awake, with particular weight carried by lips, LORD, mouth.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
Psalms 59:7-12
King James Version7Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?
8But thou, O LORD , shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.
9Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.
10The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.
11Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield.
12For 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.
Psalms 59:13-17
13–17: Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them…
Psalms 59:13–17 opens with “Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in…” and reaches “Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 59 develops its own movement around LORD, defence, mercy, sing, awake, with particular weight carried by sing, consume, defence.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of…” Naming Consume keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Psalms 59:13-17
King James Version13Consume 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.
14And at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
15Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied.
16But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.
17Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Psalms 59:1 begins with “Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.”
Where the chapter turns
Psalms 59:8 forms a natural hinge: “But thou, O LORD , shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.”
The final note
Psalms 59:17 leaves the reader with “Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, defence, mercy, sing, awake, city help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.