Psalm 59:5 (Psalm 59:4)

בְּֽלִי־֭עָוֹן יְרוּצ֣וּן וְיִכֹּונָ֑נוּ ע֖וּרָה לִקְרָאתִ֣י וּרְאֵה׃

Without iniquity they run and they set themselves, awake to meet me and see.

Morphology

1. בְּלִי־עָוֹן (be-li-ʿavon) – Root: בלי (b-l-y); Root Type: Invariable; Form: Preposition בְּ + negative noun + noun masculine singular; Translation: “without iniquity”; Notes: Indicates absence of guilt or wrongdoing as the cause.
2. יְרוּצוּן (yerutsun) – Root: רוץ (r-w-ṣ); Root Type: Hollow (weak); Binyan: Qal; Form: Imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they run”; Notes: Depicts swift hostile movement. The verb רוּץ (rūts, “to run”) appears here with the archaic paragogic nun ending (‑un). This suffix, common in Hebrew poetry, often adds a sense of energy, ritual cadence, or sustained action. The form יְרוּצ֣וּן therefore conveys more than simple motion; it evokes a rhythmic, pounding advance. Translating it as “they run” captures the action, but the Hebrew sound carries an added pulse, suggesting a relentless, measured surge forward. The morphology itself contributes to the imagery, intensifying the sense of movement through poetic form.
3. וְיִכֹּונָנוּ (ve-yikkonanu) – Root: כון (k-w-n); Root Type: Hollow (weak); Binyan: Hithpolel; Form: Conjunction וְ + Hitpolel imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they set themselves”; Notes: Expresses deliberate preparation or positioning. The verb כּוּן appears here in the Hithpolel stem, the reflexive form of the hollow root. The nuance is distinctly martial: it conveys the act of arranging or fixing into position, as soldiers would when preparing a battery or setting an aim. The image is not of passive standing but of deliberate, coordinated alignment for attack. Translating it as “set themselves” preserves this sharp, literal sense of reflexive preparation, highlighting the enemies’ intentional posture of readiness to strike.
4. עוּרָה (ʿurah) – Root: עור (ʿ-w-r); Root Type: Hollow (weak); Binyan: Qal; Form: Imperative 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “awake”; Notes: A call for divine intervention.
5. לִקְרָאתִי (liqraʾti) – Root: קרא (q-r-ʾ); Root Type: III-Aleph (weak); Binyan: Qal; Form: Preposition לְ + Qal infinitive construct + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “to meet me”; Notes: Indicates direction toward the speaker. The root קרא denotes an encounter, often directional in nature. Here, the form לִקְרָאתִי carries the sense of “toward me,” emphasizing movement into confrontation or meeting. The contrast is vivid: while the enemies are described as “running” (יְרוּצ֣וּן) and “setting themselves” (יִכֹּונָ֑נוּ) for hostile engagement, Dawid petitions God to “awake” for a protective encounter. The translation “to meet me” preserves the directional force, highlighting the plea for divine presence against the advancing threat.
6. וּרְאֵה (u-reʾeh) – Root: ראה (r-ʾ-h); Root Type: III-He (weak); Binyan: Qal; Form: Conjunction וּ + Qal imperative 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “and see”; Notes: Appeals for divine awareness and response. The imperative וּרְאֵה (“and see”) closes the plea with judicial force. In the context of Dawid’s assertion of innocence (“without iniquity”), the call to “see” invokes the role of God as Judge and Witness. It is not merely a request for observation but a demand for confirmation: open the eyes, recognize the unfairness of the ambush, and acknowledge the righteousness of the petitioner. The placement at the end sharpens the legal tone, turning the prayer into a courtroom appeal for divine recognition of injustice. This verse portrays a high-stakes tactical “setup.” The enemies are running into position with a specific plan, despite Dawid having done nothing to deserve the assault. The “running” and “setting” are the physical manifestations of the “hiding” and “watching” we saw in the previous Psalms.