God Is My High Tower

17 versesLament and TrustThe heading attributes it to David and sets it at the time when Saul sent men who watched the house to kill him

Psalm 59 summary: what it means

Psalm 59 is a cry for rescue from people lying in wait. The heading places it when Saul sent men to watch the house to kill David, and the text fits that scene. Enemies gather, lie in wait, and come back each evening howling like dogs and prowling the city. The speaker insists he has done nothing to deserve it. He asks God to rise up, and pictures God laughing at the enemies' boasting.

The psalm has two refrains. The enemies return at evening like dogs, and the speaker calls God his strength and high tower. In the end the evening howling is answered by a morning song. The speaker sings aloud of God's loving kindness in the morning, because God has been a refuge in the day of distress.

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Psalm 59: God Is My High Tower

World English Bible, public domain. allpsalms.com/psalm-59

Psalm 59 commentary: explained verse by verse

Deliver me from my enemies, my God.Set me on high from those who rise up against me.

The psalm opens with a direct request to be delivered and set on high, out of reach of those who rise up against the speaker. The idea of a high place returns later as the high tower.

Also read Psalm 58:1, Judges 16:2-3, Psalm 143:9, Luke 1:74-75

Deliver me from the workers of iniquity.Save me from the bloodthirsty men.

Also read Psalm 139:19, Psalm 55:23, Psalm 26:9, Psalm 27:2

For, behold, they lie in wait for my soul.The mighty gather themselves together against me,not for my disobedience, nor for my sin, LORD.

The enemies lie in wait, and they are strong. The speaker insists this is not because of his disobedience or his sin. The heading's scene of men watching the house fits this picture.

Also read Proverbs 12:6, 1 Samuel 24:17, John 15:25, 1 Samuel 24:11

I have done no wrong, yet they are ready to attack me.Rise up, behold, and help me!

He repeats that he has done no wrong, yet they are ready to attack. Then he asks God to rise up, look and help.

Also read Acts 23:15, Isaiah 51:9, Isaiah 59:7, Psalm 35:19

You, LORD God of Armies, the God of Israel,rouse yourself to punish the nations.Show no mercy to the wicked traitors. Selah.

Also read Ezekiel 18:27-28, Romans 2:28-29, Exodus 20:5, Genesis 33:20

They return at evening, howling like dogs,and prowl around the city.

Evening brings the enemies back, howling like dogs and prowling around the city. The same picture returns almost word for word in verse 14.

Also read 1 Samuel 19:11, Psalm 59:14, Psalm 22:16

Behold, they spew with their mouth.Swords are in their lips,“For”, they say, “who hears us?”

Also read Proverbs 15:2, Jeremiah 33:24, Psalm 94:7-9, Psalm 10:13

But you, LORD, laugh at them.You scoff at all the nations.

Against all that noise, God laughs and scoffs at the nations. The enemies ask who hears them in verse 7, and this verse gives the answer.

Also read Psalm 2:4, Psalm 37:13, Matthew 18:17, 1 Samuel 19:15-16

Oh, my Strength, I watch for you,for God is my high tower.

The speaker calls God his strength and says he watches for him. God is his high tower, a raised place of safety. The same words come back in verse 17.

Also read Matthew 6:13, Habakkuk 3:19, Psalm 62:2, Isaiah 12:2

My God will go before me with his loving kindness.God will let me look at my enemies in triumph.

God will go before him with loving kindness and let him look at his enemies in triumph. The confidence rests on God going first, not on the speaker's own strength.

Also read Psalm 92:11, 2 Samuel 1:17, Psalm 56:6, Psalm 56:2

Don’t kill them, or my people may forget.Scatter them by your power, and bring them down, Lord our shield.

The request here is restrained: do not kill them, or my people may forget. Scatter them and bring them down instead, so the lesson stays in view.

Also read Deuteronomy 4:9, Psalm 106:27, Psalm 44:11, Luke 21:21

For the sin of their mouth, and the words of their lips,let them be caught in their pride,for the curses and lies which they utter.

Also read Psalm 10:7, Matthew 27:63, Hosea 4:2, Psalm 109:17-18

Consume them in wrath.Consume them, and they will be no more.Let them know that God rules in Jacob,to the ends of the earth. Selah.

The tone hardens, and the speaker asks God to consume them in wrath. The purpose is stated: so they know that God rules in Jacob to the ends of the earth.

Also read Psalm 135:5-6, Psalm 83:18, Isaiah 54:5, Deuteronomy 2:14-16

At evening let them return.Let them howl like a dog, and go around the city.

A prayer from Psalm 59

Deliver me from my enemies, my God. Set me on high, away from those who rise up against me. They lie in wait, though I have done them no wrong. Their words are like swords, and they say, who hears us? But you hear. I watch for you, my Strength, because you are my high tower. Go before me with your loving kindness. I leave what happens to them in your hands, and I ask that people would know that you rule. In the morning I will sing aloud of your strength and your loving kindness, for you have been my refuge in the day of my distress. Amen.

Psalm 59 Bible study questions

According to the heading, what was happening when this psalm is set, and how does verse 3 describe the enemies?
Verses 6 and 14 picture enemies howling like dogs at evening; what does verse 16 set against that picture in the morning?
In verses 9 and 17 God is called my high tower; what does that image suggest to you about safety?
In verse 11 the speaker asks God not to kill the enemies so that his people may not forget; what do you make of that request?
Psalm 18:2 also calls God my high tower; how does Psalm 18:2 compare with Psalm 59:9?

Questions about Psalm 59

What is the meaning of Psalm 59?

It is a prayer for rescue from enemies who lie in wait, which turns into a song of trust in God as strength and high tower.

Who wrote Psalm 59?

The heading attributes it to David and places it at the time when Saul sent men who watched the house to kill him.

What does Psalm 59:16-17 mean?

The speaker contrasts the enemies who howl at evening with his own song in the morning. He praises God as his strength, high tower and refuge in the day of distress.

What does Psalm 59:1 say?

"Deliver me from my enemies, my God. Set me on high from those who rise up against me."

What does Psalm 59:17 say in the KJV?

"Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy." The World English Bible has "high tower" where the KJV has "defence".

Psalm 59 KJV: the King James Version

Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.1

Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men.2

For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD.3

They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold.4

Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.5

They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.6

Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?7

But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.8

Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.9

The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.10

Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield.11

For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.12

Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah.13

And at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.14

Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied.15

But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.16

Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.17

Psalm 59 in Hebrew

The Hebrew text from the Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain. Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible, which counts a psalm's heading as verse 1, so they can run one ahead of English Bibles.

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1 לַמְנַצֵּ֣חַ אַל־תַּשְׁחֵת֮ לְדָוִ֪ד מִ֫כְתָּ֥ם בִּשְׁלֹ֥חַ שָׁא֑וּל וַֽיִּשְׁמְר֥וּ אֶת־הַ֝בַּ֗יִת לַהֲמִיתֽוֹ׃

2 הַצִּילֵ֖נִי מֵאֹיְבַ֥י ׀ אֱלֹהָ֑י מִּמִתְקוֹמְמַ֥י תְּשַׂגְּבֵֽנִי׃

3 הַ֭צִּילֵנִי מִפֹּ֣עֲלֵי אָ֑וֶן וּֽמֵאַנְשֵׁ֥י דָ֝מִ֗ים הוֹשִׁיעֵֽנִי׃

4 כִּ֤י הִנֵּ֪ה אָֽרְב֡וּ לְנַפְשִׁ֗י יָג֣וּרוּ עָלַ֣י עַזִ֑ים לֹא־פִשְׁעִ֖י וְלֹא־חַטָּאתִ֣י יְהוָֽה׃

5 בְּֽלִי־עָ֭וֺן יְרוּצ֣וּן וְיִכּוֹנָ֑נוּ ע֖וּרָה לִקְרָאתִ֣י וּרְאֵה׃

6 וְאַתָּ֤ה יְהוָֽה־אֱלֹהִ֥ים ׀ צְבָא֡וֹת אֱלֹ֘הֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל הָקִ֗יצָה לִפְקֹ֥ד כָּֽל־הַגּוֹיִ֑ם אַל־תָּחֹ֨ן כָּל־בֹּ֖גְדֵי אָ֣וֶן סֶֽלָה׃

7 יָשׁ֣וּבוּ לָ֭עֶרֶב יֶהֱמ֥וּ כַכָּ֗לֶב וִיס֥וֹבְבוּ עִֽיר׃

8 הִנֵּ֤ה ׀ יַבִּ֘יע֤וּן בְּפִיהֶ֗ם חֲ֭רָבוֹת בְּשִׂפְתוֹתֵיהֶ֑ם כִּי־מִ֥י שֹׁמֵֽעַ׃

9 וְאַתָּ֣ה יְ֭הוָה תִּשְׂחַק־לָ֑מוֹ תִּ֝לְעַ֗ג לְכָל־גּוֹיִֽם׃

10 עֻ֭זּוֹ אֵלֶ֣יךָ אֶשְׁמֹ֑רָה כִּֽי־אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים מִשְׂגַּבִּֽי׃

11 אֱלֹהֵ֣י חסדו יְקַדְּמֵ֑נִי אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים יַרְאֵ֥נִי בְשֹׁרְרָֽי׃

12 אַל־תַּהַרְגֵ֤ם ׀ פֶּֽן־יִשְׁכְּח֬וּ עַמִּ֗י הֲנִיעֵ֣מוֹ בְ֭חֵילְךָ וְהוֹרִידֵ֑מוֹ מָֽגִנֵּ֣נוּ אֲדֹנָֽי׃

13 חַטַּאת־פִּ֗ימוֹ דְּֽבַר־שְׂפָ֫תֵ֥ימוֹ וְיִלָּכְד֥וּ בִגְאוֹנָ֑ם וּמֵאָלָ֖ה וּמִכַּ֣חַשׁ יְסַפֵּֽרוּ׃

14 כַּלֵּ֥ה בְחֵמָה֮ כַּלֵּ֪ה וְֽאֵ֫ינֵ֥מוֹ וְֽיֵדְע֗וּ כִּֽי־אֱ֭לֹהִים מֹשֵׁ֣ל בְּיַעֲקֹ֑ב לְאַפְסֵ֖י הָאָ֣רֶץ סֶֽלָה׃

15 וְיָשׁ֣וּבוּ לָ֭עֶרֶב יֶהֱמ֥וּ כַכָּ֗לֶב וִיס֥וֹבְבוּ עִֽיר׃

16 הֵ֭מָּה ינועון לֶאֱכֹ֑ל אִם־לֹ֥א יִ֝שְׂבְּע֗וּ וַיָּלִֽינוּ׃

17 וַאֲנִ֤י ׀ אָשִׁ֣יר עֻזֶּךָ֮ וַאֲרַנֵּ֥ן לַבֹּ֗קֶר חַ֫סְדֶּ֥ךָ כִּֽי־הָיִ֣יתָ מִשְׂגָּ֣ב לִ֑י וּ֝מָנ֗וֹס בְּי֣וֹם צַר־לִֽי׃

18 עֻ֭זִּי אֵלֶ֣יךָ אֲזַמֵּ֑רָה כִּֽי־אֱלֹהִ֥ים מִ֝שְׂגַּבִּ֗י אֱלֹהֵ֥י חַסְדִּֽי׃

Psalm 59 in the Catholic Douay-Rheims Bible

The Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain. It follows the Greek and Latin numbering, so this psalm is Psalm 58 there.

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1 Unto the end, destroy not, for David for an inscription of It title, when Saul sent and watched his house to kill him.

2 Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; and defend me from them that rise up against me.

3 Deliver me from them that work iniquity, and save me from bloody men.

4 For behold they have caught my soul: the mighty have rushed in upon me:

5 Neither is it my iniquity, nor my sin, O Lord: without iniquity have I run, and directed my steps.

6 Rise up thou to meet me, and behold: even thou, O Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel. Attend to visit all the nations: have no mercy on all them that work iniquity.

7 They shall return at evening, and shall suffer hunger like dogs: and shall go round about the city.

8 Behold they shall speak with their mouth, and a sword is in their lips: for who, say they, hath heard us?

9 But thou, O Lord, shalt laugh at them: thou shalt bring all the nations to nothing.

10 I will keep my strength to thee: for thou art my protector:

11 My God, his mercy shall prevent me.

12 God shall let me see over my enemies: slay them not, lest at any time my people forget. Scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord, my protector:

13 For the sin of their mouth, and the word of their lips: and let them be taken in their pride. And for their cursing and lying they shall be talked of,

14 When they are consumed: when they are consumed by thy wrath, and they shall be no more. And they shall know that God will rule Jacob, and all the ends of the earth.

15 They shall return at evening and shall suffer hunger like dogs: and shall go round about the city.

16 They shall be scattered abroad to eat, and shall murmur if they be not filled.

17 But I will sing thy strength: and will extol thy mercy in the morning. For thou art become my support, and my refuge, in the day of my trouble.

18 Unto thee, O my helper, will I sing, for thou art God my defence: my God my mercy.

Psalm 59 in Latin

The Clementine Vulgate, public domain, where this psalm is Psalm 58.

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1 In finem, ne disperdas. David in tituli inscriptionem, quando misit Saul et custodivit domum ejus ut eum interficeret.

2 Eripe me de inimicis meis, Deus meus, et ab insurgentibus in me libera me.

3 Eripe me de operantibus iniquitatem, et de viris sanguinum salva me.

4 Quia ecce ceperunt animam meam; irruerunt in me fortes.

5 Neque iniquitas mea, neque peccatum meum, Domine; sine iniquitate cucurri, et direxi.

6 Exsurge in occursum meum, et vide: et tu, Domine Deus virtutum, Deus Israël, intende ad visitandas omnes gentes: non miserearis omnibus qui operantur iniquitatem.

7 Convertentur ad vesperam, et famem patientur ut canes: et circuibunt civitatem.

8 Ecce loquentur in ore suo, et gladius in labiis eorum: quoniam quis audivit?

9 Et tu, Domine, deridebis eos; ad nihilum deduces omnes gentes.

10 Fortitudinem meam ad te custodiam, quia, Deus, susceptor meus es:

11 Deus meus misericordia ejus præveniet me.

12 Deus ostendet mihi super inimicos meos: ne occidas eos, nequando obliviscantur populi mei. Disperge illos in virtute tua, et depone eos, protector meus, Domine:

13 delictum oris eorum, sermonem labiorum ipsorum; et comprehendantur in superbia sua. Et de execratione et mendacio annuntiabuntur

14 in consummatione: in ira consummationis, et non erunt. Et scient quia Deus dominabitur Jacob, et finium terræ.

15 Convertentur ad vesperam, et famem patientur ut canes: et circuibunt civitatem.

16 Ipsi dispergentur ad manducandum; si vero non fuerint saturati, et murmurabunt.

17 Ego autem cantabo fortitudinem tuam, et exsultabo mane misericordiam tuam: quia factus es susceptor meus, et refugium meum in die tribulationis meæ.

18 Adjutor meus, tibi psallam, quia Deus susceptor meus es; Deus meus, misericordia mea.

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Psalm 59 at a glance

Verses	17
Heading in the text	For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A poem by David, when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him.
Attributed to	The heading attributes it to David and sets it at the time when Saul sent men who watched the house to kill him.
Type	Lament and Trust
Number in Greek and Latin Bibles	Psalm 58

Read Psalm 59 when you are facing

protection enemies deliverance morning

Psalm 59 in other translations

This page prints the World English Bible and the King James Version because both are public domain. The NIV, ESV, NKJV, NLT and NASB are under copyright, so they cannot be printed in full here. You can read Psalm 59 in those translations at Bible Gateway.

Where Psalm 59 belongs

Psalms of David Book 2 of the Psalms

How this page was made

The psalm text comes from public domain translations and is not edited. The summary, the verse notes and the answers are written for this page from the text of the psalm itself. Where a claim goes beyond the text, it is sourced below.

Sources

Text: World English Bible and King James Version, both public domain, from ebible.org source
Hebrew text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain, from ebible.org source
Douay-Rheims: Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain, from ebible.org source
Latin text: Clementine Vulgate, public domain, from ebible.org source
Numbering: Greek and Latin psalm numbering, Wikipedia, Psalms source

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Lucas Pradella

Last checked 25 September 2026 · How pages are checked

I built AllPsalms because I could not find one site that covered all 150 psalms properly. I am a Christian and a reader of the psalms, not a scholar or a minister. What I can do is the work: put every psalm in one place, in plain English, with the text unedited and every claim sourced.

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