Psalm 59 contains the motifs typical of prayer psalms, but it uniquely combines threats from personal enemies, urban unrest, and foreign nations—all within a structure whose development is more complex than what we find in most individual prayers.

Verses Form-Critical Motif Opponents:

1–4: petition and lament individual’s enemies

5: petition all the nations

6–7 (refrain A): lament urban/foreign prowlers  

8: confession of trust nations

9–10 (refrain B): confession of trust those who slander (lit. “lurk for”) me

11–13: petition enemies of my people, Jacob

14–15 (refrain A): lament urban/foreign prowlers

16–17 (refrain B): vow of praise individual

So what occasion does this psalm reflect: an individual beset with personal accusers, social conflict within Israel, or a military siege by forei…