Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.
Parallel translations
- WEB Oh, my Strength, I watch for you, for God is my high tower.
- BSB I will keep watch for You, O my strength, because You, O God, are my fortress.
- NKJV I will wait for You, O You his Strength; For God is my defense.
- NASB ¶Because of his strength I will watch for You, For God is my refuge.
- NLT You are my strength; I wait for you to rescue me, for you, O God, are my fortress.
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 resolves to watch for God, his Strength, who is his secure high tower. It expresses patient trust amid danger.
Overview
Turning from his enemies to his God, David declares the Lord his strength and stronghold. Rather than relying on his own resources, he waits expectantly for divine help. This posture of watchful dependence is the believer's refuge when surrounded by threats.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Ps 9:9The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.
- Isa 26:3–4Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
- Ps 62:2He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.
- Ps 27:14Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
- Ps 59:17Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.
- Ps 27:1The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
- Hab 3:19The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.
- Isa 12:2Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
- Isa 40:31But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
- Matt 6:13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
- Isa 58:14Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
- Ps 46:7The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
- Ps 18:1–2I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.
- Ps 20:1The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;
- Ps 62:11God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.
- Ps 62:5–6My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
- Ps 46:1God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 59:9 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.