Deliver Me from My Enemies

(1 Samuel 19:1–24)

¹For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam^a of David, when Saul sent men to watch David’s house in order to kill him.

Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;

protect me from those who rise against me.

²Deliver me from workers of iniquity,

and save me from men of bloodshed.

³See how they lie in wait for me.

Fierce men conspire against me

for no transgression or sin of my own, O LORD.

⁴For no fault of my own,

they move swiftly to attack me.

Arise to help me, and take notice.

⁵O LORD God of Hosts, the God of Israel,

rouse Yourself to punish all the nations;

show no mercy to the wicked traitors.

Selah

⁶They return in the evening, snarling like dogs

and prowling around the city.

⁷See what they spew from their mouths—

sharp words from their lips:

“For who can hear us?”

⁸But You, O LORD, laugh at them;

You scoff at all the nations.

⁹I will keep watch for You, O my strength,

because You, O God, are my fortress.

¹⁰My God of loving devotion will come to meet me;

God will let me stare down my foes.

¹¹Do not kill them,

or my people will forget.

Scatter them by Your power,

and bring them down,

O Lord, our shield.

¹²By the sins of their mouths

and the words of their lips,

let them be trapped in their pride,

in the curses and lies they utter.

¹³Consume them in wrath;

consume them till they are no more,

so it may be known to the ends of the earth

that God rules over Jacob.

Selah

¹⁴They return in the evening,

snarling like dogs

and prowling around the city.

¹⁵They scavenge for food,

and growl if they are not satisfied.

¹⁶But I will sing of Your strength

and proclaim Your loving devotion in the morning.

For You are my fortress,

my refuge in times of trouble.

¹⁷To You, O my strength, I sing praises,

for You, O God, are my fortress,

my God of loving devotion.