Psalms 59:1

Authorized King James Version (1611)

¶ To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him. Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

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

Transliteration

To the mənaṣṣēaḥ ʾal-tašḥēt to dāwid miktām when šəlōaḥ šāʾûl and they yišmərû ʾet the bayit to hămîtô.

Grammar Details

• *mənaṣṣēaḥ*: preposition lə- + participle, masculine singular - to the director/choirmaster
• *ʾal-tašḥēt*: negative particle + Hiphil jussive, 2nd singular - do not destroy
• *dāwid*: proper noun with preposition lə- - to/for David
• *miktām*: masculine noun - inscription/psalm/musical term
• *šəlōaḥ*: infinitive construct with preposition bə- - when sending
• *šāʾûl*: proper noun - Saul
• *yišmərû*: Qal imperfect, 3rd plural with waw consecutive - and they watched/guarded
• *ʾet*: direct object marker
• *bayit*: definite noun with article ha- - the house
• *hămîtô*: Hiphil infinitive construct with preposition lə- and 3rd masculine singular suffix - to kill him

Word Meanings

• *mənaṣṣēaḥ*: director/choirmaster/musical term
• *miktām*: inscription/psalm/golden poem (uncertain meaning)
• *ʾal-tašḥēt*: do not destroy/musical instruction/title of melody

Referenced Verses

• 1 Sam 19:11-24 : 11 ¶ Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain. 12 So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped. 13 And Michal took an image, and laid [it] in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' [hair] for his bolster, and covered [it] with a cloth. 14 And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He [is] sick. 15 And Saul sent the messengers [again] to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him. 16 And when the messengers were come in, behold, [there was] an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats' [hair] for his bolster. 17 And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee? 18 ¶ So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth. 19 And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David [is] at Naioth in Ramah. 20 And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing [as] appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. 21 And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also. 22 Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that [is] in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where [are] Samuel and David? And [one] said, Behold, [they be] at Naioth in Ramah. 23 And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 24 And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, [Is] Saul also among the prophets?
• Ps 18:48 : 48 He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.
• Ps 57:1 : 1 ¶ To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave. Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until [these] calamities be overpast.
• Ps 58:1 : 1 ¶ To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David. Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?
• Ps 71:4 : 4 Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
• Ps 91:14 : 14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
• Ps 143:9 : 9 Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.
• Ps 143:12 : 12 And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I [am] thy servant.
• Isa 33:16 : 16 He shall dwell on high: his place of defence [shall be] the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters [shall be] sure.
• Luke 1:74-75 : 74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, 75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
• 2 Cor 11:32-33 : 32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: 33 And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.
• 2 Tim 4:17-18 : 17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and [that] all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve [me] unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen.
• Ps 20:1 : 1 ¶ To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;
• Ps 7:1-2 : 1 ¶ Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto the LORD, concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite. O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me: 2 Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending [it] in pieces, while [there is] none to deliver.
• Ps 12:5 : 5 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set [him] in safety [from him that] puffeth at him.
• Judg 16:2-3 : 2 [And it was told] the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they compassed [him] in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him. 3 And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all, and put [them] upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of an hill that [is] before Hebron.