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59
For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A poem by David [Beloved], when Saul [Asked for] sent, and they watched the house to kill him.
Context: King Saul [Asked for] finds David [Beloved] to be unique and takes him to be part of his close circle. David [Beloved] continues with God’s favor and Saul [Asked for] becomes more suspicious and wary of David [Beloved] until Saul [Asked for] attacks in a rage. (1 Sam 18:1-9, 18:28-30, 19:8-18)
1 Deliver me from my enemies, my God.
Set me on high from those who rise up against me.
2 Deliver me from the workers of vain striving of iniquity.
Save me from the bloodthirsty men.
3 For, behold, they lie in wait for my soul.
The mighty gather themselves together against me,
not for my rebellious breach of relationship, nor for my habitual sin ·missing the mark·, Adonai.
4 I have done no depravities (moral evils), yet they are ready to attack me.
Rise up, behold, and help me!
5 You, Adonai Elohei Tzva'ot [Yahweh God Commander of heaven’s armies], the God of Israel [God prevails],
rouse yourself to punish the nations.
Show no mercy to the vain striving of iniquity traitors.
Selah ·contemplation with musical interlude·.
6 They teshuvah ·completely return· at evening, howling like dogs,
and prowl around the city.
7 Behold, they spew with their mouth.
Swords are in their lips,
“For,” they say, “who sh'ma ·hears obeys· us?”
8 But you, Adonai, laugh at them.
You scoff at all the nations.
9 Oh, my Strength, I watch for you,
for God is my high tower.
10 My God will go before me with his chesed ·loving-kindness·.
God will let me look at my enemies in triumph.
11 Don’t kill them, or my people may forget.
Scatter them by your power, and bring them down, Lord our shield.
12 For the habitual sin ·missing the mark· of their mouth, and the words of their lips,
let them be caught in their pride,
for the curses and lies which they utter.
13 Consume them in wrath.
Consume them, and they will be no more.
Let them know that God rules in Jacob [Supplanter],
to the ends of the earth.
Selah ·contemplation with musical interlude·.
14 At evening let them teshuvah ·completely return·.
Let them howl like a dog, and go around the city.
15 They shall wander up and down for food,
and wait all night if they are not satisfied.
16 But I will sing of your strength.
Yes, I will sing aloud of your chesed ·loving-kindness· in the morning.
For you have been my high tower,
a refuge in the day of my distress.
17 To you, my strength, I will sing zahmar ·musical praise·.
For God is my high tower, the God of my chesed ·loving-kindness·.

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© 2016,2019 Thomas Robinson