Deliver Me from My Enemies
(1 Samuel 19:1–24)

1For the one directing. “To Do not Destroy.” Of David. a Miktam† at the sending of men by Saul, when they watched the house in order to kill him.

1 Snatch me from my enemies, O my God;

from those who rise against me, set me on a place up high.

2Deliver me from the workers of iniquity,

and save me from men of blood!

3For behold, they lie in wait for my life;

the mighty ones gather against me,

not for my transgression and not for my sin, O YHWH.

4Without my fault,

they run and prepare themselves.

Awake to help me, and see!

5And You, O YHWH, God of Hosts, the God of Israel,

may You awaken to attend to all the nations!

You must not be merciful to any of those acting treacherously with wickedness.

Selah

6they return at the evening; they growl like a dog,

and go all around the city.

7Behold, they belch out with their mouths.

Swords are in their lips:

“For who hears?”

8But You, O YHWH, laugh at them!

You scoff at all the nations.

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

for God is my secure height.

10The God of loving devotion will meet me;

God will let me look on my enemies.

11Do not kill them,

lest my people forget.

Send them staggering by Your strength,

and bring them down!

O Lord, our shield.

12The sin of their mouth

is a word of their lips;

let them be captured in their pride

and in the cursing and lies they recount.

13Consume them in fury,

consume them, and they are no more!

And let them know that God

is ruling in Jacob to the ends of the earth.

Selah

14and they return in the evening;

they growl like a dog,

and go round about the city.

15They wander up and down for food;

and if they are not satisfied, then they grumble.

16But I will sing of Your power,

and I will sing out Your loving devotion in the morning.

For You have been a high place for me,

and a refuge for me in the day of distress.

17O My strength, to You I will sing praises!

For God is my secure height,

the God of loving devotion to me.