Psalm 54

English Standard Version

The Lord Upholds My Life

To the choirmaster: with ^(A)stringed instruments. A Maskil^[a] of David, ^(B)when the Ziphites went and told Saul, “Is not David hiding among us?”

54 O God, save me by your ^(C)name,
and vindicate me by your might.
²O God, ^(D)hear my prayer;
give ear to the words of my mouth.

³^(E)For ^(F)strangers^[b] have risen against me;
ruthless men ^(G)seek my life;
they do not set God before themselves. Selah

⁴Behold, ^(H)God is my helper;
the Lord is the upholder of my life.
⁵He will return the evil to my enemies;
in your ^(I)faithfulness ^(J)put an end to them.

⁶With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you;
I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, ^(K)for it is good.
⁷For he has delivered me from every trouble,
and my eye has ^(L)looked in triumph on my enemies.

Footnotes

Psalm 54:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
Psalm 54:3 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Targum insolent men (compare Psalm 86:14)

Psalm 54

New International Version

Psalm 54^[a]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil^[b] of David. When the Ziphites^(A) had gone to Saul and said, “Is not David hiding among us?”

¹Save me^(B), O God, by your name;^(C)
vindicate me by your might.^(D)
²Hear my prayer, O God;^(E)
listen to the words of my mouth.

³Arrogant foes are attacking me;^(F)
ruthless people^(G) are trying to kill me^(H)—
people without regard for God.^[c]^(I)

⁴Surely God is my help;^(J)
the Lord is the one who sustains me.^(K)

⁵Let evil recoil^(L) on those who slander me;
in your faithfulness^(M) destroy them.

⁶I will sacrifice a freewill offering^(N) to you;
I will praise^(O) your name, Lord, for it is good.^(P)
⁷You have delivered me^(Q) from all my troubles,
and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes.^(R)

Footnotes

Psalm 54:1 In Hebrew texts 54:1-7 is numbered 54:3-9.
Psalm 54:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
Psalm 54:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.

Psalm 1-5

English Standard Version

Book One

The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked

1 Blessed is the man^[a]
    who ^(A)walks not in ^(B)the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in ^(C)the way of sinners,
    nor ^(D)sits in ^(E)the seat of ^(F)scoffers;
²but his ^(G)delight is in the law^[b] of the Lord,
    and on his ^(H)law he meditates day and night.

³He is like ^(I)a tree
    planted by ^(J)streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
    and its ^(K)leaf does not wither.
^(L)In all that he does, he prospers.
⁴The wicked are not so,
    but are like ^(M)chaff that the wind drives away.

⁵Therefore the wicked ^(N)will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in ^(O)the congregation of the righteous;
⁶for the Lord ^(P)knows ^(Q)the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.

The Reign of the Lord's Anointed

2 ^(R)Why do ^(S)the nations rage^[c]
    and the peoples plot in vain?
²The kings of the earth set themselves,
    and the rulers take counsel together,
    against the Lord and against his ^(T)Anointed, saying,
³“Let us ^(U)burst their bonds apart
    and cast away their cords from us.”

⁴He who ^(V)sits in the heavens ^(W)laughs;
    the Lord holds them in derision.
⁵Then he will speak to them in his ^(X)wrath,
    and terrify them in his fury, saying,
⁶“As for me, I have ^(Y)set my King
    on ^(Z)Zion, my ^(AA)holy hill.”

⁷I will tell of the decree:
The Lord said to me, ^(AB)“You are my Son;
    today I have begotten you.
⁸Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
    and ^(AC)the ends of the earth your possession.
⁹You shall ^(AD)break^[d] them with ^(AE)a rod of iron
    and dash them in pieces like ^(AF)a potter's vessel.”

¹⁰Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
    be warned, O rulers of the earth.
¹¹^(AG)Serve the Lord with ^(AH)fear,
    and ^(AI)rejoice with ^(AJ)trembling.
¹²^(AK)Kiss ^(AL)the Son,
    lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
    for his ^(AM)wrath is quickly kindled.
^(AN)Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Save Me, O My God

A Psalm of David, ^(AO)when he fled from Absalom his son.

3 O Lord, ^(AP)how many are my foes!
Many are ^(AQ)rising against me;
²many are saying of my soul,
^(AR)“There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah^[e]

³But you, O Lord, are ^(AS)a shield ^(AT)about me,
my glory, and ^(AU)the lifter of my head.
⁴I ^(AV)cried aloud to the Lord,
and he ^(AW)answered me from his ^(AX)holy hill. Selah

⁵I ^(AY)lay down and slept;
I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.
⁶I ^(AZ)will not be afraid of many thousands of people
who have ^(BA)set themselves against me all around.

⁷^(BB)Arise, O Lord!
Save me, O my God!
For you ^(BC)strike all my enemies on the cheek;
you ^(BD)break the teeth of the wicked.

⁸^(BE)Salvation belongs to the Lord;
your blessing be on your people! Selah

Answer Me When I Call

To the ^(BF)choirmaster: with ^(BG)stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

4 Answer me when I call, O God of my ^(BH)righteousness!
You have ^(BI)given me relief when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

²O men,^[f] how long shall my honor be turned into shame?
How long will you love vain words and seek after ^(BJ)lies? Selah
³But know that the Lord has ^(BK)set apart ^(BL)the godly for himself;
the Lord hears when I call to him.

⁴^(BM)Be angry,^[g] and do not sin;
^(BN)ponder in your own hearts ^(BO)on your beds, and be silent. Selah
⁵Offer ^(BP)right sacrifices,
and put your ^(BQ)trust in the Lord.

⁶There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
^(BR)Lift up ^(BS)the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”
⁷You have put ^(BT)more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and wine abound.

⁸In peace I will both ^(BU)lie down and sleep;
for you alone, O Lord, make me ^(BV)dwell in safety.

Lead Me in Your Righteousness

To the choirmaster: for the flutes. A Psalm of David.

5 Give ear to my words, O Lord;
    consider my ^(BW)groaning.
²Give attention to the sound of my cry,
    my ^(BX)King and my God,
    for ^(BY)to you do I pray.
³O Lord, in ^(BZ)the morning you hear my voice;
    in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you^[h] and ^(CA)watch.

⁴For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;
    evil may not dwell with you.
⁵The ^(CB)boastful shall not ^(CC)stand before your eyes;
    you ^(CD)hate all evildoers.
⁶You destroy those who speak ^(CE)lies;
    the Lord abhors ^(CF)the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

⁷But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,
    will enter your house.
I will ^(CG)bow down ^(CH)toward your ^(CI)holy temple
    in the fear of you.
⁸^(CJ)Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness
    because of my enemies;
    ^(CK)make your way straight before me.

⁹For there is no truth in their mouth;
    their inmost self is ^(CL)destruction;
^(CM)their throat is ^(CN)an open grave;
    they ^(CO)flatter with their tongue.
¹⁰^(CP)Make them bear their guilt, O God;
    let them ^(CQ)fall by their own counsels;
because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out,
    for they have rebelled against you.

¹¹But let all who ^(CR)take refuge in you ^(CS)rejoice;
    let them ever sing for joy,
and spread your protection over them,
    that those who love your name may ^(CT)exult in you.
¹²For you ^(CU)bless the righteous, O Lord;
    you ^(CV)cover him with favor as with ^(CW)a shield.

Footnotes

Psalm 1:1 The singular Hebrew word for man (ish) is used here to portray a representative example of a godly person; see Preface
Psalm 1:2 Or instruction
Psalm 2:1 Or nations noisily assemble
Psalm 2:9 Revocalization yields (compare Septuagint) You shall rule
Psalm 3:2 The meaning of the Hebrew word Selah, used frequently in the Psalms, is uncertain. It may be a musical or liturgical direction
Psalm 4:2 Or O men of rank
Psalm 4:4 Or Be agitated
Psalm 5:3 Or I direct my prayer to you

Psalm 1-5

New International Version

BOOK I

Psalms 1–41

Psalm 1

¹Blessed is the one^(A)
    who does not walk^(B) in step with the wicked^(C)
or stand in the way^(D) that sinners take^(E)
    or sit^(F) in the company of mockers,^(G)
²but whose delight^(H) is in the law of the Lord,^(I)
    and who meditates^(J) on his law day and night.
³That person is like a tree^(K) planted by streams^(L) of water,^(M)
    which yields its fruit^(N) in season
and whose leaf^(O) does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers.^(P)

⁴Not so the wicked!
    They are like chaff^(Q)
    that the wind blows away.
⁵Therefore the wicked will not stand^(R) in the judgment,^(S)
    nor sinners in the assembly^(T) of the righteous.

⁶For the Lord watches over^(U) the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.^(V)

Psalm 2

¹Why do the nations conspire^[a]
    and the peoples plot^(W) in vain?
²The kings^(X) of the earth rise up
    and the rulers band together
    against the Lord and against his anointed,^(Y) saying,
³“Let us break their chains^(Z)
    and throw off their shackles.”^(AA)

⁴The One enthroned^(AB) in heaven laughs;^(AC)
    the Lord scoffs at them.
⁵He rebukes them in his anger^(AD)
    and terrifies them in his wrath,^(AE) saying,
⁶“I have installed my king^(AF)
    on Zion,^(AG) my holy mountain.^(AH)”

⁷I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

He said to me, “You are my son;^(AI)
    today I have become your father.^(AJ)
⁸Ask me,
    and I will make the nations^(AK) your inheritance,^(AL)
    the ends of the earth^(AM) your possession.
⁹You will break them with a rod of iron^[b];^(AN)
    you will dash them to pieces^(AO) like pottery.^(AP)”

¹⁰Therefore, you kings, be wise;^(AQ)
    be warned, you rulers^(AR) of the earth.
¹¹Serve the Lord with fear^(AS)
    and celebrate his rule^(AT) with trembling.^(AU)
¹²Kiss his son,^(AV) or he will be angry
    and your way will lead to your destruction,
for his wrath^(AW) can flare up in a moment.
    Blessed^(AX) are all who take refuge^(AY) in him.

Psalm 3^[c]

A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.^(AZ)

¹Lord, how many are my foes!
How many rise up against me!
²Many are saying of me,
“God will not deliver him.^(BA)”^[d]

³But you, Lord, are a shield^(BB) around me,
my glory, the One who lifts my head high.^(BC)
⁴I call out to the Lord,^(BD)
and he answers me from his holy mountain.^(BE)

⁵I lie down and sleep;^(BF)
I wake again,^(BG) because the Lord sustains me.
⁶I will not fear^(BH) though tens of thousands
assail me on every side.^(BI)

⁷Arise,^(BJ) Lord!
Deliver me,^(BK) my God!
Strike^(BL) all my enemies on the jaw;
break the teeth^(BM) of the wicked.

⁸From the Lord comes deliverance.^(BN)
May your blessing^(BO) be on your people.

Psalm 4^[e]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of David.

¹Answer me^(BP) when I call to you,
my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;^(BQ)
have mercy^(BR) on me and hear my prayer.^(BS)

²How long will you people turn my glory^(BT) into shame?^(BU)
How long will you love delusions and seek false gods^[f]?^[g]^(BV)
³Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant^(BW) for himself;
the Lord hears^(BX) when I call to him.

⁴Tremble and^[h] do not sin;^(BY)
    when you are on your beds,^(BZ)
    search your hearts and be silent.
⁵Offer the sacrifices of the righteous
    and trust in the Lord.^(CA)

⁶Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”
Let the light of your face shine on us.^(CB)
⁷Fill my heart^(CC) with joy^(CD)
when their grain and new wine^(CE) abound.

⁸In peace^(CF) I will lie down and sleep,^(CG)
for you alone, Lord,
make me dwell in safety.^(CH)

Psalm 5^[i]

For the director of music. For pipes. A psalm of David.

¹Listen^(CI) to my words, Lord,
    consider my lament.^(CJ)
²Hear my cry for help,^(CK)
    my King and my God,^(CL)
    for to you I pray.

³In the morning,^(CM) Lord, you hear my voice;
    in the morning I lay my requests before you
    and wait expectantly.^(CN)
⁴For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness;
    with you, evil people^(CO) are not welcome.
⁵The arrogant^(CP) cannot stand^(CQ)
    in your presence.
You hate^(CR) all who do wrong;
⁶    you destroy those who tell lies.^(CS)
The bloodthirsty and deceitful
    you, Lord, detest.
⁷But I, by your great love,
    can come into your house;
in reverence^(CT) I bow down^(CU)
    toward your holy temple.^(CV)

⁸Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness^(CW)
    because of my enemies—
    make your way straight^(CX) before me.
⁹Not a word from their mouth can be trusted;
    their heart is filled with malice.
Their throat is an open grave;^(CY)
    with their tongues they tell lies.^(CZ)
¹⁰Declare them guilty, O God!
    Let their intrigues be their downfall.
Banish them for their many sins,^(DA)
    for they have rebelled^(DB) against you.
¹¹But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
    let them ever sing for joy.^(DC)
Spread your protection over them,
    that those who love your name^(DD) may rejoice in you.^(DE)

¹²Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous;^(DF)
you surround them^(DG) with your favor as with a shield.^(DH)

Footnotes

Psalm 2:1 Hebrew; Septuagint rage
Psalm 2:9 Or will rule them with an iron scepter (see Septuagint and Syriac)
Psalm 3:1 In Hebrew texts 3:1-8 is numbered 3:2-9.
Psalm 3:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 4 and 8.
Psalm 4:1 In Hebrew texts 4:1-8 is numbered 4:2-9.
Psalm 4:2 Or seek lies
Psalm 4:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 4.
Psalm 4:4 Or In your anger (see Septuagint)
Psalm 5:1 In Hebrew texts 5:1-12 is numbered 5:2-13.

Psalm 7

English Standard Version

In You Do I Take Refuge

A ^(A)Shiggaion^[a] of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning the words of Cush, a Benjaminite.

7 O Lord my God, in you do I ^(B)take refuge;
^(C)save me from all my pursuers and deliver me,
²lest like ^(D)a lion they tear my soul apart,
rending it in pieces, with ^(E)none to deliver.

³O Lord my God, ^(F)if I have done this,
    if there is ^(G)wrong in my hands,
⁴if I have repaid ^(H)my friend^[b] with evil
    or ^(I)plundered my enemy without cause,
⁵let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it,
    and let him ^(J)trample my life to the ground
    and lay my glory in the dust. Selah

⁶^(K)Arise, O Lord, in your anger;
    ^(L)lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies;
    ^(M)awake for me; you have appointed a judgment.
⁷Let the assembly of the peoples be gathered about you;
    over it return on high.

⁸The Lord ^(N)judges the peoples;
    ^(O)judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness
    and according to the integrity that is in me.
⁹Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end,
    and may you establish the righteous—
you who ^(P)test ^(Q)the minds and hearts,^[c]
    O righteous God!
¹⁰My shield is ^(R)with God,
    who saves ^(S)the upright in heart.
¹¹God is ^(T)a righteous judge,
    and a God who feels ^(U)indignation every day.

¹²If a man^[d] does not repent, God^[e] will ^(V)whet his sword;
    he has ^(W)bent and ^(X)readied his bow;
¹³he has prepared for him his deadly weapons,
    making his ^(Y)arrows ^(Z)fiery shafts.
¹⁴Behold, the wicked man ^(AA)conceives evil
    and is ^(AB)pregnant with mischief
    and gives birth to lies.
¹⁵He makes ^(AC)a pit, digging it out,
    and falls into the hole that he has made.
¹⁶His ^(AD)mischief returns upon his own head,
    and on his own skull his violence descends.

¹⁷I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness,
and I will ^(AE)sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.

Footnotes

Psalm 7:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
Psalm 7:4 Hebrew the one at peace with me
Psalm 7:9 Hebrew the hearts and kidneys
Psalm 7:12 Hebrew he
Psalm 7:12 Hebrew he

Psalm 7

New International Version

Psalm 7^[a]

A shiggaion^[b]^(A) of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning Cush, a Benjamite.

¹Lord my God, I take refuge^(B) in you;
save and deliver me^(C) from all who pursue me,^(D)
²or they will tear me apart like a lion^(E)
and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue^(F) me.

³Lord my God, if I have done this
    and there is guilt on my hands^(G)—
⁴if I have repaid my ally with evil
    or without cause^(H) have robbed my foe—
⁵then let my enemy pursue and overtake^(I) me;
    let him trample my life to the ground^(J)
    and make me sleep in the dust.^[c]^(K)

⁶Arise,^(L) Lord, in your anger;
    rise up against the rage of my enemies.^(M)
    Awake,^(N) my God; decree justice.
⁷Let the assembled peoples gather around you,
    while you sit enthroned over them on high.^(O)
⁸    Let the Lord judge^(P) the peoples.
Vindicate me, Lord, according to my righteousness,^(Q)
    according to my integrity,^(R) O Most High.^(S)
⁹Bring to an end the violence of the wicked
    and make the righteous secure—^(T)
you, the righteous God^(U)
    who probes minds and hearts.^(V)

¹⁰My shield^[d]^(W) is God Most High,
    who saves the upright in heart.^(X)
¹¹God is a righteous judge,^(Y)
    a God who displays his wrath^(Z) every day.
¹²If he does not relent,^(AA)
    he^[e] will sharpen his sword;^(AB)
    he will bend and string his bow.^(AC)
¹³He has prepared his deadly weapons;
    he makes ready his flaming arrows.^(AD)

¹⁴Whoever is pregnant with evil
    conceives trouble and gives birth^(AE) to disillusionment.
¹⁵Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out
    falls into the pit^(AF) they have made.^(AG)
¹⁶The trouble they cause recoils on them;
    their violence comes down on their own heads.

¹⁷I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness;^(AH)
I will sing the praises^(AI) of the name of the Lord Most High.^(AJ)

Footnotes

Psalm 7:1 In Hebrew texts 7:1-17 is numbered 7:2-18.
Psalm 7:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
Psalm 7:5 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
Psalm 7:10 Or sovereign
Psalm 7:12 Or If anyone does not repent, / God

English Standard Version (ESV)

New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 54 English Standard Version

The Lord Upholds My Life

To the choirmaster: with (A)stringed instruments. A Maskil[a] of David, (B)when the Ziphites went and told Saul, “Is not David hiding among us?”

Footnotes

Cross references

Psalm 54 New International Version

Psalm 54[a]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil[b] of David. When the Ziphites(A) had gone to Saul and said, “Is not David hiding among us?”

Footnotes

Cross references

Psalm 1-5 English Standard Version

Book One

The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked

The Reign of the Lord's Anointed

Save Me, O My God

A Psalm of David, (AO)when he fled from Absalom his son.

Answer Me When I Call

To the (BF)choirmaster: with (BG)stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

Lead Me in Your Righteousness

To the choirmaster: for the flutes. A Psalm of David.

Footnotes

Cross references

Psalm 1-5 New International Version

BOOK I

Psalms 1–41

Psalm 1

Psalm 2

Psalm 3[c]

A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.(AZ)

Psalm 4[e]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of David.

Psalm 5[i]

For the director of music. For pipes. A psalm of David.

Footnotes

Cross references

Psalm 7 English Standard Version

In You Do I Take Refuge

A (A)Shiggaion[a] of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning the words of Cush, a Benjaminite.

Footnotes

Cross references

Psalm 7 New International Version

Psalm 7[a]

A shiggaion[b](A) of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning Cush, a Benjamite.

Footnotes

Cross references

More on the NIV

Psalm 54

English Standard Version

To the choirmaster: with ^(A)stringed instruments. A Maskil^[a] of David, ^(B)when the Ziphites went and told Saul, “Is not David hiding among us?”

Psalm 54

New International Version

Psalm 54^[a]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil^[b] of David. When the Ziphites^(A) had gone to Saul and said, “Is not David hiding among us?”

Psalm 1-5

English Standard Version

A Psalm of David, ^(AO)when he fled from Absalom his son.

To the ^(BF)choirmaster: with ^(BG)stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

Psalm 1-5

New International Version

Psalm 3^[c]

A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.^(AZ)

Psalm 4^[e]

Psalm 5^[i]

Psalm 7

English Standard Version

A ^(A)Shiggaion^[a] of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning the words of Cush, a Benjaminite.

Psalm 7

New International Version

Psalm 7^[a]

A shiggaion^[b]^(A) of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning Cush, a Benjamite.