They run and prepare themselves without [my] fault
Or, "without sin [in me]"; or "without punishment [in them]"; so the same word is rendered, ( 1 Samuel 28:10 ) . "They run", in an hostile manner, "against me", as the Syriac version adds; or like dogs up and down, about the city, to find him and kill him; see ( Psalms 59:7 Psalms 59:14 ) . Or this may denote their readiness and swiftness to shed blood, ( Proverbs 1:16 ) ; "and prepare themselves" with weapon, with instruments of death, as the men did that were sent to kill him; and as the band of men that came with Judas to take Christ prepared themselves with swords and staves. The Targum is,
``they order or ordain war;''which they prosecuted without any occasion of it from him, and wilt, impunity in them. Wherefore it follows,
awake to help me;
or "to meet me" F14; see ( Genesis 46:29 ) ( Exodus 4:14 Exodus 4:27 ) ; with succour and supplies, and to deliver out of the hands of enemies. The Lord, though he neither slumbers nor sleeps, yet seems to be asleep when he does not arise to help his people, but suffers the enemy to prevail; and when he seems to take no notice of their case, but hides his eyes, and shuts them as a man asleep. Hence the following petition,
and behold;
the distress the psalmist was in, and the wickedness and malice of his enemies against him.