Psalms 59:15They shall wander up and down for food, and wait all night if they aren't satisfied.
The setting
Jerusalem, ~1010 BC. David envisions his enemies reduced to hungry scavengers, wandering the same streets where they once hunted him with confidence. Modern-day Jerusalem, Israel.
The emotion here: fierce satisfaction imagining divine justice
The original word
nu'a (נוּעַ) — to wander aimlessly, stagger without direction or purpose
Why it matters
Saul's men who hunted David were elite soldiers, but David prophesies they'll become desperate wanderers
Read with care
What most readers miss in Psalms 59:15
David isn't describing random punishment — he's saying those who made him homeless will themselves become homeless
Common misconceptionThis sounds like David wanting revenge, but he's actually prophesying consequences — those who create homelessness will experience it themselves.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Psalms 59:15
Bible Genome reading
Psalms 59:15 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Psalms 59:15 comes from the book of Psalms, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to David. The dominant emotion in this verse is angry, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is urgent. It belongs to the psalm genre of biblical literature. Key themes include consequences, desperation, divine judgment. Notable phrases: wander up and down for food; wait all night. This verse is a prayer.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same angry
“Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, 'I am strong.'”
— Joel 3:10
“You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!”
— Matthew 23:24
“Listen to this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who tell their husba…”
— Amos 4:1
“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I can't stand your solemn assemblies.”
— Amos 5:21
“Your eyes shall not pity; life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”
— Deuteronomy 19:21
Your reflection
What does Psalms 59:15 mean to you, today?
A short note. A question. A prayer. Saved privately to your Soul Garden, dated, and tied to this verse forever.
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