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

Prayer for Vindication

To the leader: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David, when the Ziphites went and told Saul, “David is in hiding among us.”

Save me, O God, by your name,
    and vindicate me by your might.(A)
Hear my prayer, O God;
    give ear to the words of my mouth.(B)

For the insolent have risen against me;
    the ruthless seek my life;
    they do not set God before them. Selah(C)

But surely, God is my helper;
    the Lord is the upholder of[a] my life.(D)
He will repay my enemies for their evil.
    In your faithfulness, put an end to them.(E)

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

Footnotes

  1. 54.4 Gk Syr Jerome: Heb is of those who uphold or is with those who uphold