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Psalm 54:1-3
New Catholic Bible
Psalm 54:1-3
New Catholic Bible
Psalm 54[a]
Prayer in Time of Danger
1 For the director.[b] On stringed instruments. A maskil of David. 2 When the Ziphites came to Saul and said, “David is hiding among us.”
3 O God, save me by your name;[c]
vindicate me by your power.
Footnotes
- Psalm 54:1 The “name” stands for God himself, the Almighty One. To him the psalmist directs his supplication, from him help will come, and toward him will thanksgiving be extended. For Christians, the “name” is that of Jesus Christ, who saves those who invoke it (see Acts 2:21; Rom 10:9; 1 Cor 1:2). “There is no . . . other name under heaven given to men by which we can be saved” (Acts 4:12). The name “Jesus” means “God saves” (see Mt 1:21).
- Psalm 54:1 For the director: probably a musical or liturgical notation. Maskil: see note on Ps 32:1a. For the event in David’s life, see 1 Sam 23:19.
- Psalm 54:3 The beleaguered psalmist summons God to give him justice (see Ps 17). Name: see note on Ps 5:12.
