Psalm 59:13 - Printer Friendly

ESV: consume them in wrath; consume them till they are no more, that they may know that God rules over Jacob to the ends of the earth. Selah

NIV: consume them in your wrath, consume them till they are no more. Then it will be known to the ends of the earth that God rules over Jacob.

NASB: Destroy them in wrath, destroy them so that they will no longer exist; So that people may know that God rules in Jacob, To the ends of the earth. Selah

CSB: Consume them in rage; consume them until they are gone. Then people will know throughout the earth that God rules over Jacob. Selah

NLT: Destroy them in your anger! Wipe them out completely! Then the whole world will know that God reigns in Israel. Interlude

KJV: Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah.

NKJV: Consume them in wrath, consume them, That they may not be; And let them know that God rules in Jacob To the ends of the earth. Selah

David has asked the Lord to save him from enemies (Psalm 59:1–3) who have formed an assassination plot against him (1 Samuel 19:11–16). He wants God to make an example of these wicked, lying plotters (Psalm 59:11–12). Here, David makes it clear he wished these wicked people utterly obliterated. This puts these verses among the "imprecatory" psalms: passages invoking God's wrath and disaster on an enemy.

Though this destruction would be an object lesson to Israel (Psalm 59:11), it would also send a message to the entire world. Saul plotted to murder David out of jealousy (1 Samuel 20:30–33) after being rejected by the Lord (1 Samuel 15:11). David was God's chosen replacement (1 Samuel 16:13). To attack David, then, was to challenge God's authority over His chosen people. Thwarting that plot would make it clear that the Lord, not people, is ultimately in control of Israel's fate.

For centuries, wicked nations have tried to obliterate the Jews, but they have failed. The Lord's people have been scattered around the world. However, God has promised to restore them to their homeland and cause the entire world to acknowledge the Lord their God. This will happen when Jesus returns to earth, judges the nations, and establishes His kingdom on earth. Ezekiel 39:26–27 promises that redeemed Israel will dwell safely in their homeland after the Lord has brought them back from the nations. Zechariah 14:9 declares, "And the Lᴏʀᴅ will be king over all the earth. On that day the Lᴏʀᴅ will be one and his name one."

This Hebrew term selah is not clearly defined but seems to request a pause for reflection.

Psalm 59:9–17 delivers an appropriate climax to David's cry for deliverance from his enemies. David puts his trust in God. He anticipates divine wrath being poured out on his unclean, beastly enemies. He also looks forward to more opportunities to offer praise for God's protection and love. As part of an "imprecatory" psalm, David calls on the Lord to make His retribution harsh and public, so the world will see it and acknowledge God.

David prays, asking the Lord to deliver him from a lurking band of bloodthirsty enemies. He calls on the God of Israel to make an example of these lying, evil men, and to destroy them entirely. Rather than despair, David firmly trusts in the Lord and looks forward to victory. David concludes his psalm with praise to the Lord, his Strength, whose love is loyal. David praises God for being his fortress and shelter.

This is one of many psalms where David prays for rescue from his enemies (Psalm 3:1–3; 7:1–2; 54:1–2). King Saul jealously sent men to wait outside David's home to assassinate him (1 Samuel 19:11–16), but David was able to escape with the help of his wife. Because David asks for the Lord to severely judge the wicked, this is considered one of the "imprecatory" psalms, along with Psalms 5, 10, 58, 69, 83, 109, 137, 140, and others.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.