See how they lie in wait for me. Fierce men conspire against me for no transgression or sin of my own, O LORD.
Parallel translations
- WEB For, behold, they lie in wait for my soul. The mighty gather themselves together against me, not for my disobedience, nor for my sin, Yahweh.
- KJV 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.
- NKJV For look, they lie in wait for my life; The mighty gather against me, Not for my transgression nor for my sin, O Lord.
- NASB For behold, they have set an ambush for my life; Fierce men attack me, Not for my wrongdoing nor for my sin, Lord,
- NLT They have set an ambush for me. Fierce enemies are out there waiting, Lord, though I have not sinned or offended them.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
David protests that his enemies plot against him though he has done no wrong. He appeals to God on the basis of his innocence in this matter.
Overview
David insists the assault is unjust, not provoked by any sin or rebellion of his against his foes. His clear conscience gives him boldness to call on God. This points ahead to Christ, the truly innocent one who was hated without cause yet entrusted himself to the Father who judges justly.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Ps 56:6They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps while they wait to take my life.
- Ps 69:4Those who hate me without cause outnumber the hairs of my head; many are those who would destroy me—my enemies for no reason. Though I did not steal, I must repay.
- 1 Sam 24:11See, my father, look at the corner of your robe in my hand. For I cut it off, but I did not kill you. See and know that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands. I have not sinned against you, even though you are hunting me down to take my life.
- John 15:25But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated Me without reason.’
- Prov 12:6The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them.
- Mic 7:2The godly man has perished from the earth; there is no one upright among men. They all lie in wait for blood; they hunt one another with a net.
- Ps 37:32–33Though the wicked lie in wait for the righteous, and seek to slay them,
- Ps 38:12Those who seek my life lay snares; those who wish me harm speak destruction, plotting deceit all day long.
- Ps 7:3–6O LORD my God, if I have done this, if injustice is on my hands,
- 1 Sam 26:18And he continued, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done? What evil is in my hand?
- Acts 23:21Do not let them persuade you, because more than forty men are waiting to ambush him. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him; they are ready now, awaiting your consent.”
- 1 Sam 24:17and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me with good, though I have rewarded you with evil.
- Ps 2:2The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed One:
- 1 Sam 19:1Then Saul ordered his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. But Jonathan delighted greatly in David,
- Acts 4:26–27The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against His Anointed One.’
- Ps 10:9–10He lies in wait like a lion in a thicket; he lurks to seize the oppressed; he catches the lowly in his net.
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 59:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.