Psalms 59:6

"They return at evening, they howl like a dog,

And go round about the city.

Behold, they belch out with their mouth;

Swords are in their lips:

For who, say they, doth hear?

But thou, O Jehovah, wilt laugh at them;

Thou wilt have all the nations in derision.

Because of his strength I will give heed unto thee;

For God is my high tower."

"Like a dog" (Psalms 59:6). David here compared his lurking enemies to scavenger dogs, which were the bane of ancient Oriental cities. Then the figure changes, and we see that these "dogs" are men continually speaking evil against David.

"They belch out with their mouth" (Psalms 59:7). This refers to the slanderous, obscene, and derogatory tales they were telling against David. Notice too that the final line here in Psalms 59:7 is blasphemous, indicating that they did not believe in God at all.

Throughout the psalm thus far, David pleads for God's deliverance on the following grounds: (1) the wickedness of his enemies (Psalms 59:2); the danger of eminent death to himself (Psalms 59:3); (3) his own innocence (Psalms 59:3-4); and (4) the profane atheism of his enemies (Psalms 59:7).[13]

"Because of his strength" (Psalms 59:9). Rawlinson pointed out that there is no "because of" in the original language (as witnessed by the italics). Several manuscripts here have "my strength" as in Psalms 59:17; and all the ancient versions have 'my strength.'[14] The RSV has, "O my strength, I will sing praises to thee; for thou, O God, art my fortress"; and this certainly seems preferable above the ASV.

This verse is a refrain, and the RSV here makes it conform exactly to Psalms 59:17 where the refrain recurs.