Prayer for Defense against Enemies.

For the music director; on stringed instruments. A [a]Maskil of David, [b]when the Ziphites came and said to Saul, “Is David not keeping himself hidden among us?”

54 Save me, God, by (A)Your name,
And [c]vindicate me by (B)Your power.
(C)Hear my prayer, God;
(D)Listen to the words of my mouth.
For strangers have (E)risen against me
And (F)violent men have (G)sought my [d]life;
They have (H)not set God before them. Selah

Behold, (I)God is my helper;
The Lord is [e]the (J)sustainer of my soul.
[f]He will (K)pay back the evil to my enemies;
[g](L)Destroy them (M)in Your [h]faithfulness.

[i](N)Willingly I will sacrifice to You;
I will (O)praise Your name, Lord, for it is good.
For [j]He has (P)saved me from all [k]trouble,
And my eye has (Q)looked with satisfaction upon my enemies.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 54 Title Possibly Contemplative; or Didactic; or Skillful Psalm
  2. Psalm 54 Title 1 Sam 23:19; 26:1
  3. Psalm 54:1 Lit judge
  4. Psalm 54:3 Or soul
  5. Psalm 54:4 Lit as those who sustain
  6. Psalm 54:5 LXX; MT The evil will return
  7. Psalm 54:5 Or Put to silence
  8. Psalm 54:5 Or truth
  9. Psalm 54:6 Or With a voluntary offering
  10. Psalm 54:7 Or it; i.e., His name
  11. Psalm 54:7 Or distress

Psalm 54

For the choir director: A psalm[a] of David, regarding the time the Ziphites came and said to Saul, “We know where David is hiding.” To be accompanied by stringed instruments.

Come with great power, O God, and rescue me!
    Defend me with your might.
Listen to my prayer, O God.
    Pay attention to my plea.
For strangers are attacking me;
    violent people are trying to kill me.
    They care nothing for God. Interlude

But God is my helper.
    The Lord keeps me alive!
May the evil plans of my enemies be turned against them.
    Do as you promised and put an end to them.

I will sacrifice a voluntary offering to you;
    I will praise your name, O Lord,
    for it is good.
For you have rescued me from my troubles
    and helped me to triumph over my enemies.

Footnotes

  1. 54:Title Hebrew maskil. This may be a literary or musical term.