Psalms 59:4
in Psalms 59For no fault of my own, they move swiftly to attack me. Arise to help me, and take notice.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
They run and prepare themselves without my fault: Awake thou to help me, and behold.
KJV
They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold.
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This verse in Psalms 59
Commentary
10 notes on this verseThey run and prepare themselves without my fault,.... Or, "without sin in me"; or "without punishment in them"; so the same word is rendered, 1Sa 28:10. "They run", in an hostile manner, "against me", as the Syriac version adds; or like dogs up and down, about the city, to find him and kill him; see Psa 59:
This site's exposition
For no fault of my own
on Psalms 59:4-5
Verse 4 repeats the innocence of verse 3 and then asks God to arise, to help and to take notice. Verse 5 widens the plea past his own enemies to all the nations, and names Him LORD God of Hosts, God of Israel. He asks no mercy for the traitors.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
What next? "Neither iniquity is mine, nor sin mine, O Lord" [Psalm 59:4]. There have rushed on indeed strong men on their own righteousness relying, they have rushed on, but sin in me they have not found. For truly those strong men, that is, as it were righteous men, on what account would they be able to persecute Christ, unless it were as if a sinner? But, however, let them look to it how strong they be, in the raging of fever not in the vigour of soundness: let them look to it how strong they be, and how as though just against an unrighteous man they have raged. But, however, "neither iniquity is mine, nor sin mine, O Lord. Without iniquity I did run, and I was guided." Those strong men therefore could not follow me running: therefore a sinner they have deemed me, because my steps they have not seen.
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Note, (1.) The innocency of the godly will not secure them from the malignity of the wicked. Those that are harmless like doves, yet, for Christ's sake, are hated of all men, as if they were noxious like serpents, and obnoxious accordingly.
He knew his enemies were wicked transgressors, wilful, malicious, and hardened in their transgressions both against God and man, and therefore he sues for justice against them, judgment without mercy. Let not those expect to find mercy who never showed mercy, for such are wicked transgressors.
He pleads the bad character of his enemies. They are workers of iniquity, and therefore not only his enemies, but God's enemies; they are bloody men, and therefore not only his enemies, but enemies to all mankind. "Lord, let not the workers of iniquity prevail against one that is a worker of righteousness, nor bloody men against a merciful man." 2.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
They run and prepare themselves without my fault. They are all alive and active, they are swift to shed blood. They prepare and use their best tactics; they besiege me in my house, and lay their ambuscades as for some notable enemy. They come up fully armed to the attack, and assail me with all the vigour and skill of a host about to storm a castle; and all for no cause, but out of gratuitous malice.
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
They run and prepare themselves without my fault. They are all alive and active, they are swift to shed blood. They prepare and use their best tactics; they besiege me in my house, and lay their ambuscades as for some notable enemy. They come up fully armed to the attack, and assail me with all the vigour and skill of a host about to storm a castle; and all for no cause, but out of gratuitous malice. So quick are they to obey their cruel master, that they never stay to consider whether their errand is a good one or not; they run at once, and buckle on their harness as they run. To be thus gratuitously attacked is a great grief. To a brave man the danger causes little distress of mind compared with the injustice to which he is subjected. It was a cruel and crying shame that such a hero as David should be hounded down as if he were a monster, and beset in his house like a wild beast in its den. Awake to help me, and behold. When others go to sleep, keep thou watch, O God. Put forth thy might. Arouse thee from thy inaction. Only look at thy servant's sad condition and thy hand will be sure to deliver me. We see how thorough was the psalmist's faith in the mercy of his Lord, for he is satisfied that if the Lord do but look on his case it will move his active compassion.
They run and prepare themselves - They leave no stone unturned that they may effect my destruction and prevent the building.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
They run and prepare themselves - That is, they “hasten” to accomplish this; they are quick to obey the command of Saul requiring them to slay me. The word “prepare” refers to whatever was deemed necessary to enable them to accomplish what they had been commanded to do - arming themselves, making provision for their journey, etc. Without my fault - That is, without anything on my part to deserve this, or to justify Saul and those employed by him in what they attempt to do. David, in all this, was conscious of innocence. In his own feelings toward Saul, and in all his public acts, he knew that he had sought only the king’s welfare, and that he had been obedient to the laws. Awake to help me - That is, “arouse,” as one does from sleep. See the notes at Psa 7:6. Compare Psa 35:23. The word rendered “to help me,” is rendered in the margin, “to meet me.” This is the meaning of the Hebrew. It is a prayer that God would meet him, or come to him, and aid him.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| בְּֽלִי־ | beli- | not | H1097 → | 58 times |
| עָ֭וֹן | ʾavon | iniquity | H5771 → | 233 times |
| יְרוּצ֣וּן | yerutzun | they run ! | H7323 → | 103 times |
| וְיִכּוֹנָ֑נוּ | veyikonanu | and they may be established | H3559 → | 217 times |
| ע֖וּרָה | ʾurah | awake ! | H5782 → | 80 times |
| לִקְרָאתִ֣י | likrati | to meet me | H7122 → | |
| וּרְאֵה׃ | ureeh | and see | H7200 → | 1300 times |
בְּֽלִי־not
beli-H1097 →58 times
עָ֭וֹןiniquity
ʾavonH5771 →233 times
יְרוּצ֣וּןthey run !
yerutzunH7323 →103 times
וְיִכּוֹנָ֑נוּand they may be established
veyikonanuH3559 →217 times
ע֖וּרָהawake !
ʾurahH5782 →80 times
לִקְרָאתִ֣יto meet me
likratiH7122 →
וּרְאֵה׃and see
ureehH7200 →1300 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 35:23Awake and rise to my defense, to my cause, my God and my Lord!
it leads to
- Psalms 7:6
Arise, O LORD, in Your anger; rise up against the fury of my enemies. Awake, my God, and ordain judgment.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 44:23
Wake up, O Lord! Why are You sleeping? Arise! Do not reject us forever.
- Psalms 7:6
Through
Isaiah 59:7Their feet run to evil; they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are sinful thoughts; ruin and destruction lie in their wake.
it leads to
- Proverbs 1:16
For their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed blood.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Romans 3:15–17
“Their feet are swift to shed blood;
- Proverbs 6:17
haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
- Proverbs 1:16
Through
Psalms 35:19Let not my enemies gloat over me without cause, nor those who hate me without reason wink in malice.
it leads to
- John 15:25
But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated Me without reason.’
- Psalms 69:4
Those 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.
- Proverbs 6:13
winking his eyes, speaking with his feet, and pointing with his fingers.
- John 15:25
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Psalms
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Psalms; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 59; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 3; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Psalms; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.