Psalms 59:5 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

O Lord, &c., the God of Israel In covenant with all true Israelites, whom thou promisest to protect and bless. Awake to visit all the heathen Or, these heathen, who, though they are Israelites by birth, yet in truth, and in their dispositions and manners, are mere heathen. Be not merciful Hebrew, אל תחן, al tachon, Thou wilt not be merciful, that is, Thou canst not with honour, nor according to thy word, be merciful, to any wicked transgressors Hebrew, כל בגדי און, cal bogedee aven, perfidious transgressors, or, more literally, prevaricators of wickedness; that is, such as are guilty of great treachery and perfidiousness, meaning such as, with pretences of friendship, persecuted him and other good men, out of malice, and against their own consciences. But neither can God, in consistency with the perfections of his nature, and the truths of his word, show mercy to any incorrigible offenders.