I will sing and make melody.
8Awake, my soul!
Awake, O harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn.
9I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
10For your steadfast love is as high as the heavens;
your faithfulness extends to the clouds.
11Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.
Let your glory be over all the earth.
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a Cn: Heb are aflame for
57.1–11 A prayer for help by one who has been beset by other people. To the leader. See note on 4.1–8. Do Not Destroy. Meaning uncertain. Miktam. See note on 16.1–11. When he fled…cave. See 1 Sam 22–24.
57.1–3 A plea for help expressed in confidence that God will save.
57.1 Shadow of your wings. See notes on 91.1; 91.4.
57.3 Selah. See note on 3.2.
57.4 The enemies of the petitioner are portrayed as lions lying in wait and devouring their prey (see note on 7.2).
57.5 A refrain expressing praise to God (cf. v. 11).
57.6 The enemies, now pictured as hunters, fall into their own trap. Net, pit. See note on 9.15.
57.7–11 Expressions of trust, thanksgiving, and praise in anticipation of God’s continued faithfulness to the psalmist. Repeated in 108.1–5.
PSALM 58
Prayer for Vengeance
To the leader: Do Not Destroy. Of David. A Miktam.
1Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods?a
Do you judge people fairly?
2No, in your hearts you devise wrongs;
your hands deal out violence on earth.
3The wicked go astray from the womb;
they err from their birth, speaking lies.
4They have venom like the venom of a serpent,
like the deaf adder that stops its ear,
5so that it does not hear the voice of charmers
or of the cunning enchanter.
6O God, break the teeth in their mouths;
tear out the fangs of the young lions, O LORD!
7Let them vanish like water that runs away;
like grass let them be trodden downb and wither.
8Let them be like the snail that dissolves into slime;
like the untimely birth that never sees the sun.
9Sooner than your pots can feel the heat of thorns,
whether green or ablaze, may he sweep them away!
10The righteous will rejoice when they see vengeance done;
they will bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked.
11People will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous;
surely there is a God who judges on earth.”
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a Or mighty lords
b Cn: Meaning of Heb uncertain
58.1–11 A call to God to destroy the power of the wicked. The depiction of the wicked in vv. 3–5 and the plea of v. 6 associate the psalm with the prayers for help that surround this psalm. To the leader. See note on 4.1–8. Do Not Destroy. Meaning uncertain. Miktam. See note on 16.1–11.
58.1–2 An indictment of the gods of the nations, who are responsible for justice on the earth (see Ps 82) but in fact support the wicked, as the next verses suggest. For the conceptual background of these verses, see note on 82.1–8.
58.3–5 A description of the wicked with particular emphasis upon their deceit (v. 3), deadliness (v. 4a), and uncontrollability (vv. 4a–5; cf. Jer 8.17). They are the agents of the violence perpetuated by the cosmic powers or demonic forces of vv. 1–2.
58.6–9 A series of imprecations, or curses, calling for God to destroy the wicked.
58.6 Young lions. See note on 7.2.
58.8 Untimely birth, i.e., miscarriage.
58.9 The text is disturbed and the meaning uncertain.
58.10–11 The confidence of the righteous or innocent in God’s vindicating judgment.
PSALM 59
Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies
To the leader: Do Not Destroy. Of David. A Miktam, when Saul ordered his house to be watched in order to kill him.
1Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;
protect me from those who rise up against me.
2Deliver me from those who work evil;
from the bloodthirsty save me.
3Even now they lie in wait for my life;
the mighty stir up strife against me.
For no transgression or sin of mine, O LORD,
4for no fault of mine, they run and make ready.
Rouse yourself, come to my help and see!
5You, LORD God of hosts, are God of Israel.
Awake to punish all the nations;
spare none of those who treacherously plot evil.
Selah
6Each evening they come back,
howling like dogs
and prowling about the city.
7There they are, bellowing with their mouths,
with sharp wordsa on their lips—
for “Who,” they think,b “will hear us?”
8But you laugh at them, O LORD;
you hold all the nations in derision.
9O my strength, I will watch for you;
for you, O God, are my fortress.
10My God in his steadfast love will meet me;
my God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.
11Do not kill them, or my people may forget;
make them totter by your power, and bring them down,
O Lord, our shield.
12For 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,
13consume them in wrath;
consume them until they are no more.
Then it will be known to the ends of the earth
that God rules over Jacob.
Selah
14Each evening they come back,
howling like dogs
and prowling about the city.
15They roam about for food,
and growl if they do not get their fill.
16But I will sing of your might;
I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.
For you have been a fortress for me
and a refuge in the day of my distress.
17O my strength, I will sing praises to you,
for you, O God, are my fortress,
the God who shows me steadfast love.
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a Heb with swords
b Heb lacks they think
59.1–17 An individual prayer for help. To the leader. See note on 4.1–8. Do Not Destroy. Meaning uncertain. Miktam. See note on 16.1–11. When Saul…kill him. See 1 Sam 19.11–17.
59.1–2 Plea for deliverance from the psalmist’s enemies.
59.3–4a Description of the persecution by the enemies and a protestation of innocence on the part of the psalmist, suggesting the persecution may be a matter of false accusations (cf. vv. 7, 12).
59.4b–5 Additional plea for God’s active involvement to help. Selah. See note on 3.2.
59.6–7 A reference to the enemies as prowling and scavenging dogs (cf. vv. 14–15) who believe they will not be called to account when they persecute (cf. 10.4, 13; 14.1; 73.11; 94.7).
59.8–10 Expressions of confidence in God.
59.8 See 2.4; 37.13.
59.11–13 A final plea for God to bring down the wicked as a lesson and witness to all people that God rules in power.
59.16–17 A vow of thanksgiving and praise for God’s help.
PSALM 60
Prayer for National Victory after Defeat
To the leader: according to the Lily of the Covenant. A Miktam of David; for instruction; when he struggled with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah, and when Joab on his return killed t
welve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
1O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses;
you have been angry; now restore us!
2You have caused the land to quake; you have torn it open;
repair the cracks in it, for it is tottering.
3You have made your people suffer hard things;
you have given us wine to drink that made us reel.
4You have set up a banner for those who fear you,
to rally to it out of bowshot.a
Selah
5Give victory with your right hand, and answer us,b
so that those whom you love may be rescued.
6God has promised in his sanctuary:c
“With exultation I will divide up Shechem,
and portion out the Vale of Succoth.
7Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine;
Ephraim is my helmet;
Judah is my scepter.
8Moab is my washbasin;
on Edom I hurl my shoe;
over Philistia I shout in triumph.”
9Who will bring me to the fortified city?
Who will lead me to Edom?
10Have you not rejected us, O God?
You do not go out, O God, with our armies.
11O grant us help against the foe,
for human help is worthless.
12With God we shall do valiantly;
it is he who will tread down our foes.
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a Gk Syr Jerome: Heb because of the truth
b Another reading is me
c Or by his holiness
60.1–12 A prayer of the community for God’s help. To the leader. See note on 4.1–8. According to…Covenant, perhaps a melody. Miktam. See note on 16.1–11. When he struggled…Aram-zobah. See 2 Sam 8.3–8; 10.6–18. Twelve thousand…Valley of Salt. See 2 Sam 8.13. Joab was David’s general. These historical allusions are probably secondary. A national defeat may lie behind this psalm, but it is not possible to determine which one with any certainty.
60.1–4 A complaint to God, who is seen as the ultimate source of the national suffering.
60.4 You have set up a banner. Perhaps to be understood as a request rather than a declaration, i.e., “Set up a banner.” Selah. See note on 3.2.
60.5–12 Repeated in 108.6–13.
60.5 Plea for help (v. 5a) and motivation offered (v. 5b).
60.6–8 Divine response asserting God’s power and rule over Israel and Judah and their enemies. It was probably delivered by a priest or prophet in the temple.
60.6 I will divide up…and portion out is God’s claim of ownership. Shechem was one of the main towns in the Northern Kingdom, Israel.
60.6b–7 Succoth, Gilead, and Manasseh were areas east of the Jordan. Ephraim may be the hill country of the Northern Kingdom or a term for the kingdom as a whole. Judah is the Southern Kingdom, where the Davidic king ruled (i.e., God’s scepter).
60.8 Moab, Edom, and Philistia were often in conflict with Israel. Hurl my shoe is an image indicating possession (cf. Ruth 4.7–8).
60.9–12 A plea for help on the part of the king or some representative figure. The meaning of v. 9 is unclear. The complaint of v. 10 echoes the complaint of v. 1 and leads into the final petition (v. 11) and the expression of confidence (v. 12).
PSALM 61
Assurance of God’s Protection
To the leader: with stringed instruments. Of David.
1Hear my cry, O God;
listen to my prayer.
2From the end of the earth I call to you,
when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock
that is higher than I;
3for you are my refuge,
a strong tower against the enemy.
4Let me abide in your tent forever,
find refuge under the shelter of your wings.
Selah
5For you, O God, have heard my vows;
you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.
6Prolong the life of the king;
may his years endure to all generations!
7May he be enthroned forever before God;
appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him!
8So I will always sing praises to your name,
as I pay my vows day after day.
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61.1–8 A prayer by an individual for help. To the leader…instruments. See note on 4.1–8.
61.1–2a A cry for help. From the end of the earth suggests the psalmist is distant from the sanctuary (cf. 42.6; 84.2).
61.2b–5 The psalmist seeks refuge and expresses confidence in God’s protection.
61.4 Tent, the sanctuary or temple. Shelter of your wings. See notes on 91.1; 91.4. Selah. See note on 3.2.
61.5 Fear. See note on 34.7.
61.6–7 Intercession for the king (cf. 63.11; 84.9).
61.6 Cf. 72.5, 15.
61.7 For steadfast love and faithfulness as personifications, see note on 85.10–13.
61.8 Vow of praise when the psalmist is secure in the safety of God’s presence. See note on 65.1–2a.
PSALM 62
Song of Trust in God Alone
To the leader: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.
1For God alone my soul waits in silence;
from him comes my salvation.
2He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall never be shaken.
3How long will you assail a person,
will you batter your victim, all of you,
as you would a leaning wall, a tottering fence?
4Their only plan is to bring down a person of prominence.
They take pleasure in falsehood;
they bless with their mouths,
but inwardly they curse.
Selah
5For God alone my soul waits in silence,
for my hope is from him.
6He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
7On God rests my deliverance and my honor;
my mighty rock, my refuge is in God.
8Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us.
Selah
9Those of low estate are but a breath,
those of high estate are a delusion;
in the balances they go up;
they are together lighter than a breath.
10Put no confidence in extortion,
and set no vain hopes on robbery;
if riches increase, do not set your heart on them.
11Once God has spoken;
twice have I heard this:
that power belongs to God,
12and steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord.
For you repay to all
according to their work.
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62.1–12 A prayer of trust in God in the face of persecution. To the leader. See note on 4.1–8. According to Jeduthun. See note on 77.1–20.
62.1–7 Expression of trust by the psalmist. The theme is set at the beginning (vv. 1–2) and then repeated at the end (vv. 5–7). In between (vv. 3–4) the psalmist laments over the oppression inflicted by others that has evoked this prayer. The psalmist has been battered for some time by the lies, curses (magical incantations), and hypocrisy of the enemies.
62.4 Selah. See note on 3.2.
62.8–10 Instruction to the community to trust in God and not in immoral and oppressive acts.
62.11–12 Reference to God’s promise of protection, possibly an oracle of salvation, that evokes the confidence expressed in the prayer.
62.12 You repay…work. Cited in Mt 16.27; Rom 2.6.
PSALM 63
Comfort and Assurance in God’s Presence
A Psalm of David, when he was in the Wilderness of Judah.
; 1O God, you are my God, I seek you,
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
2So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
3Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
4So I will bless you as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands and call on your name.
5My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast,a
and my mouth praises you with joyful lips
6when I think of you on my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
7for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.
8My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.
9But those who seek to destroy my life
shall go down into the depths of the earth;
10they shall be given over to the power of the sword,
they shall be prey for jackals.
11But the king shall rejoice in God;
all who swear by him shall exult,
for the mouths of liars will be stopped.
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a Heb with fat and fatness
63.1–11 A prayer for help in the sanctuary, in which the psalmist is confident of God’s overthrow of those who are persecuting. When he was…Judah may refer to 1 Sam 23.14–15 or 24.1. This secondary historical allusion may be suggested by v. 1b.
63.1–2 The longing of the psalmist for the divine presence.
63.1 Cf. 42.1–2.
63.2 It is unclear if the psalmist is looking for or has already seen God in some way in the sanctuary (cf. 5.3; 27.4).
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