59:3 For look, they wait to ambush me; 1
powerful men stalk 2 me,
but not because I have rebelled or sinned, O Lord. 3
59:4 Though I have done nothing wrong, 4 they are anxious to attack. 5
Spring into action and help me! Take notice of me! 6
59:6 They return in the evening;
they growl 7 like a dog
and prowl around outside 8 the city.
59:15 They wander around looking for something to eat;
they refuse to sleep until they are full. 9
59:16 As for me, I will sing about your strength;
I will praise your loyal love in the morning.
For you are my refuge 10
and my place of shelter when I face trouble. 11
1 tn Heb “my life.”
2 tn The Hebrew verb is from the root גּוּר (gur), which means “to challenge, attack” in Isa 54:15 and “to stalk” (with hostile intent) in Ps 56:8.
3 sn The point is that the psalmist’s enemies have no justifiable reason for attacking him. He has neither rebelled or sinned against the
4 tn Heb “without sin.”
5 tn Heb “they run and they are determined.”
6 tn Heb “arise to meet me and see.” The Hebrew verb קָרָא (qara’, “to meet; to encounter”) here carries the nuance of “to help.”
7 tn Or “howl”; or “bark.”
8 tn Heb “go around.”
9 tn Heb “if they are not full, they stay through the night.”
10 tn Or “my elevated place” (see Ps 18:2).
11 tn Heb “and my shelter in the day of my distress.”