Psalms 59:11

Do not strike them dead suddenly, because then my people might forget the lesson. ¹  Use your power to make them homeless vagabonds and then bring them down, O Lord who shields us! ² 

But do not kill them, O Lord our shield, or my people will forget. In your might make them wander about, and bring them down.

Do not slay them, or my people will forget; Scatter them by Your power, and bring them down, O Lord, our shield.

Don’t kill them, for my people soon forget such lessons; stagger them with your power, and bring them to their knees, O Lord our shield.

Don't make quick work of them, GOD, lest my people forget. Bring them down in slow motion, take them apart piece by piece.

Put them not to death, for so my people will keep the memory of them: let them be sent in all directions by your power; make them low, O Lord our saviour.

Do not kill them, or my people may forget; make them totter by your power, and bring them down, O Lord, our shield.

Do not slay them, lest my people forget; Scatter them by Your power, And bring them down, O Lord our shield.

Do not strike them dead suddenly, because then my people might forget the lesson. ¹  Use your power to make them homeless vagabonds and then bring them down, O Lord who shields us! ² 

¹ tn Heb “do not kill them, lest my people forget.”

sn My people might forget the lesson. Swift, sudden destruction might be quickly forgotten. The psalmist wants God’s judgment to be prolonged so that it might be a continual reminder of divine justice.

² tn Heb “make them roam around by your strength and bring them down, O our shield, the Lord.”