Psalm 56-60
1599 Geneva Bible
56 1 David being brought to Achish the king of Gath, 1 Sam. 21:12, complaineth of his enemies, demandeth succor, 3 Putteth his trust in God and in his promises, 12 And promiseth to perform his vows which he had taken upon him, whereof this was the effect, to praise God in his Church.
To him that excelleth. A Psalm of David on Michtam, concerning the [a]dumb dove in a far country, when the Philistines took him in Gath.
1 Be merciful unto me, O God, for [b]man would swallow me up: he fighteth continually and vexeth me.
2 Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for many fight against me, O thou most High.
3 When I was afraid, I trusted in thee.
4 I will rejoice in God, because of his [c]word, I trust in God, and will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
5 Mine own [d]words grieve me daily: all their thoughts are against me to do me hurt.
6 [e]They gather together, and keep themselves close: they mark my steps, because they wait for my soul.
7 [f]They think they shall escape by iniquity: O God, cast these people down in thine anger.
8 Thou hast counted my wanderings; put my [g]tears into thy bottle; are they not in thy register?
9 When I cry, then mine enemies shall turn back; this I know, for God is with me.
10 I will rejoice in God because of his word; in the Lord will I rejoice because of his word.
11 In God do I trust; I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
12 [h]Thy vows are upon me, O God, I will render praises unto thee.
13 For thou hast delivered my soul from death, and also my feet from falling, that I may [i]walk before God in the [j]light of the living.
57 1 David being in the desert of Ziph, where the inhabitants did betray him, and at length in the same cave with Saul, 2 Calleth most earnestly unto God, with full confidence that he will perform his promise, and take his cause in hand. 5 Also that he will show his glory in the heavens and the earth against his cruel enemies. 9 Therefore doth he render laud and praise.
To him that excelleth. [k]Destroy not. A Psalm of David on Michtam. (A)When he fled from Saul in the cave.
1 Have mercy upon me, O God, have mercy upon me; for my soul trusteth in thee, and in the shadow of thy wings will I [l]trust, till these [m]afflictions overpass.
2 I will call unto the most high God, even the God, that [n]performeth his promise toward me.
3 He will send from [o]heaven, and save me from the reproof of him that would swallow me. Selah. God will send his mercy, and his truth.
4 My soul is among lions; I lie among the children of men, that are set on fire; whose teeth are [p]spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
5 [q]Exalt thyself, O God, above the heaven, and let thy glory be upon all the earth.
6 They have laid a net for my steps; [r]my soul is pressed down, they have dug a pit before me, and are fallen into the midst of it. Selah.
7 Mine heart is [s]prepared, O God, mine heart is prepared; I will sing and give praise.
8 [t]Awake my tongue, awake viol and harp: I will awake early.
9 I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people, and I will sing unto thee among the nations.
10 For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the [u]clouds.
11 Exalt thyself, O God, above the heavens, and let thy glory be upon all the earth.
58 1 He describeth the malice of his enemies, the flatterers of Saul, who both secretly and openly sought his destruction, from whom he appealeth to God’s judgment, 10 Showing that the just shall rejoice, when they see the punishment of the wicked to the glory of God.
To him that excelleth. Destroy not. A Psalm of David on Michtam.
1 Is it true? O [v]congregation, speak ye justly? O sons of men judge ye uprightly?
2 Yea, rather ye imagine mischief in your heart: [w]your hands execute cruelty upon the earth.
3 The wicked [x]are strangers from the womb: even from the belly have they erred, and speak lies.
4 Their poison is even like the poison of a serpent; like the deaf [y]adder that stoppeth his ear.
5 Which heareth not the voice of the enchanter, though he be most expert in charming.
6 Break their [z]teeth, O God, in their mouths: break the jaws of the young lions, O Lord.
7 Let them [aa]melt like the waters, let them pass away; when he shooteth his arrows, let them be as broken.
8 Let them consume like a snail that melteth, and like the untimely fruit of a woman, that hath not seen the sun.
9 [ab]As raw flesh before your pots feel the fire of thorns: so let them carry them away as with a whirlwind in his wrath.
10 The righteous shall [ac]rejoice when he seeth the vengeance; he shall wash his feet in the [ad]blood of the wicked.
11 And men shall say, [ae]Verily there is fruit for the righteous; doubtless there is a God that judgeth in the earth.
59 1 David being in great danger of Saul, who sent to slay him in his bed, prayeth unto God, 3 Declaring his innocency, and their fury, 5 Desiring God to destroy all those that sin of malicious wickedness. 11 Whom though he keep alive for a time to exercise his people, yet in the end he will consume them in his wrath, 13 That he may be known to be the God of Jacob to the end of the world. 16 For this he singeth praises to God assured of his mercies.
To him that excelleth. Destroy not. A Psalm of David, on [af]Michtam. (B)When Saul sent and they did watch the house to kill him.
1 O my God, [ag]deliver me from mine enemies; defend me from them that rise up against me.
2 Deliver me from the wicked doers, and save me from the bloody men.
3 For lo, they have laid wait for my soul; the mighty men are gathered against me, not for mine [ah]offense, nor for my sin, O Lord.
4 They run and prepare themselves without a fault on my part: arise therefore to assist me, and behold.
5 Even thou, O Lord God of hosts, O God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen, and be not [ai]merciful unto all that transgress maliciously. Selah.
6 They go to and fro in the evening: they bark like [aj]dogs, and go about the city.
7 Behold, they [ak]brag in their talk, and swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?
8 But thou, O Lord, shalt have them in derision, and thou shalt laugh at all the heathen.
9 [al]He is strong: but I will wait upon thee: for God is my defense.
10 My merciful God will [am]prevent me: God will let me see my desire upon mine enemies.
11 Slay them [an]not, lest my people forget it: but scatter them abroad by thy power, and put them down, O Lord, our shield,
12 For the sin of their mouth, and the words of their lips: and let them be [ao]taken in their pride, even for their perjury and lies, that they speak.
13 [ap]Consume them in thy wrath: consume them that they be no more: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob, even unto the ends of the world. Selah.
14 And in the evening they [aq]shall go to and fro, and bark like dogs, and go about the city.
15 They shall run here and there for meat, and surely they shall not be satisfied, though they tarry all night.
16 But I will sing of thy [ar]power, and will praise thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble.
17 Unto thee, O my [as]Strength will I sing: for God is my defense, and my merciful God.
60 1 David being now king over Judah, and having had many victories, showeth by evident signs that God elected him King, assuring the people that God will prosper them, if they approve the same. 14 After, he prayeth unto God to finish that that he hath begun.
To him that excelleth upon [at]Shushan Eduth, or Michtam. A Psalm of David to teach. (C)When he fought against [au]Aram Naharaim, and against Aram [av]Zobah, when Joab returned and slew twelve thousand Edomites in the salt valley.
1 O God, thou hast cast us out, thou hast [aw]scattered us, thou hast been angry, turn again unto us.
2 Thou hast made the land to tremble, and hast made it to [ax]gape: heal the breaches thereof, for it is shaken.
3 Thou hast [ay]showed thy people heavy things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of giddiness.
4 But now thou hast given [az]a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of thy truth. Selah.
5 That thy beloved may be delivered, help with thy right hand and hear me.
6 God hath spoken in his [ba]holiness: therefore I will rejoice: I shall divide Shechem, and measure the valley of Succoth.
7 Gilead shall be mine, and Manasseh shall be mine: Ephraim also shall be the [bb]strength of mine head: [bc]Judah is my lawgiver.
8 Moab shall be my [bd]washpot: over Edom will I cast out my shoe: [be]Philistia show thyself joyful for me.
9 Who will lead me into the [bf]strong city? who will bring me unto Edom?
10 Wilt not thou, O God, which hadst cast us off, and didst not go forth, O God, with our armies?
11 Give us help against trouble: for vain is the help of man.
12 Through God we shall do valiantly; for he shall tread down our enemies.
Footnotes
- Psalm 56:1 Being chased by the fury of his enemies into a strange country, he was a dumb dove not seeking revengeance.
- Psalm 56:1 He showeth that it is either now time or never, that God help him, for all the world is against him and ready to devour him.
- Psalm 56:4 He stayeth his conscience upon God’s promise, though he see not present help.
- Psalm 56:5 All my counsels have evil success, and turn to mine own sorrow.
- Psalm 56:6 As all the world against one man, and cannot be satiate, except they have my life.
- Psalm 56:7 They think not only to escape punishment, but the more wicked they are, the more impudent they wax.
- Psalm 56:8 If God keep the tears of his Saints in store, much more will he remember their blood, to avenge it: and though tyrants burn the bones, yet can they not blot the tears and blood out of God’s register.
- Psalm 56:12 Having received that which I required, I am bound to pay my vows of thanksgiving, as I promised.
- Psalm 56:13 As mindful of his great mercies, and giving him thanks for the same.
- Psalm 56:13 That is, in this life and light of the sun.
- Psalm 57:1 This was either the beginning of a certain song, or the words which David uttered when he stayed his affection.
- Psalm 57:1 Or, dwell most safely.
- Psalm 57:1 He compareth the afflictions which God layeth upon his children, to a storm that cometh and goeth.
- Psalm 57:2 Who leaveth not his works begun imperfect.
- Psalm 57:3 He would rather deliver me by a miracle, than that I should be overcome.
- Psalm 57:4 He meaneth their calumnies and false reports.
- Psalm 57:5 Suffer me not to be destroyed to the contempt of thy Name.
- Psalm 57:6 For very fear seeing the great dangers on all sides.
- Psalm 57:7 That is, wholly bent to give thee praise for my deliverance.
- Psalm 57:8 He showeth that both his heart shall praise God, and his tongue shall confess him, and also he will use other means to provoke himself forward to the same.
- Psalm 57:10 Thy mercies do not only appertain to the Jews, but also to the Gentiles.
- Psalm 58:1 Ye counselors of Saul, who under pretence of consulting for the common wealth, conspire my death being an innocent.
- Psalm 58:2 Ye are not ashamed to execute that cruelty publicly, which ye have imagined in your hearts.
- Psalm 58:3 That is, enemies to the people of God even from their birth.
- Psalm 58:4 They pass in malice and subtlety the crafty serpent which could preserve himself by stopping his ear from the enchanter.
- Psalm 58:6 Take away all occasions and means whereby they hurt.
- Psalm 58:7 Considering God’s divine power, he showeth that God in a moment can destroy their force whereof they brag.
- Psalm 58:9 As flesh is taken raw out of the pot before the water seethe: so he desireth God to destroy their enterprises before they bring them to pass.
- Psalm 58:10 With a pure affection.
- Psalm 58:10 Their punishment and slaughter shall be so great.
- Psalm 58:11 Seeing God governeth all by his providence, he must needs put difference between the godly and the wicked.
- Psalm 59:1 Read Ps. 16.
- Psalm 59:1 Though his enemies were even at hand to destroy him, yet he assureth himself that God had ways now in hand to deliver him.
- Psalm 59:3 For I am innocent to themwards, and have not offended them.
- Psalm 59:5 Seeing it appertaineth to God’s judgments to punish the wicked, he desiresth God to execute his vengeance on the reprobate, who maliciously persecute his Church.
- Psalm 59:6 He compareth their cruelty to hungry dogs, showing that they are never weary in doing evil.
- Psalm 59:7 They boast openly in their wicked devices, and every word is as a sword: for they neither fear God nor are ashamed of men.
- Psalm 59:9 Though Saul have never so great power, yet I know that thou dost bridle him: therefore will I patiently hope on thee.
- Psalm 59:10 He will not fail to succor me when need requireth.
- Psalm 59:11 Altogether, but by little and little, that the people seeing oftentimes thy judgments, may be mindful of thee.
- Psalm 59:12 That in their misery and shame they may be as glasses and examples of God’s vengeance.
- Psalm 59:13 When thy time shall come, and when they have sufficiently served for an example of thy vengeance unto others.
- Psalm 59:14 He mocketh at their vain enterprises, being assured that they shall not bring their purpose to pass.
- Psalm 59:16 Which didst use the policy of a weak woman to confound the enemy’s strength, as 1 Sam. 19:12.
- Psalm 59:17 Confessing himself to be void of all virtue and strength, he attributeth the whole to God.
- Psalm 60:1 These were certain songs after the note whereof this Psalm was sung.
- Psalm 60:1 Or, Syria, called Mesopotamia.
- Psalm 60:1 Called also Sophene, which standeth by Euphrates.
- Psalm 60:1 For when Saul was not able to resist the enemy, the people fled hither and thither: for they could not be safe in their own houses.
- Psalm 60:2 As cleft with an earthquake.
- Psalm 60:3 Thou hast handled thy people sharply, in taking from them sense and judgment, in that they aided Saul the wicked King, and pursued him to whom God had given the just title of the realm.
- Psalm 60:4 In making me king, thou hast performed thy promise, which seemed to have lost the force.
- Psalm 60:6 It is so certain as if it were spoken by an oracle, that I shall possess those places which Saul hath left to his children.
- Psalm 60:7 For it was strong and well peopled.
- Psalm 60:7 David meaneth, that in this tribe his kingdom shall be established, Gen. 49:10.
- Psalm 60:8 In most vile subjection.
- Psalm 60:8 For thou wilt dissemble, and feign as though thou werest glad.
- Psalm 60:9 He was assured that God would give him the strong cities of his enemies, wherein they thought themselves sure.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
