Psalm 54

Prayer for Deliverance

For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David. When the Ziphites went and said to Saul, “Is David not hiding among us?” ^(A)

David’s Narrow Escape

¹⁹ Some Ziphites^(A) came up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Isn’t it true that David is hiding among us in the strongholds in Horesh on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon? ²⁰ So now, whenever the king wants to come down, let him come down. As for us, we will be glad to hand him over to the king.”^(B)

²¹ “May you be blessed by the Lord,” replied Saul, “for you have shown concern for me.^{(C) 22} Go and check again. Investigate^[a] where he goes^[b] and who has seen him there; they tell me he is extremely cunning. ²³ Investigate^[c] all the places where he hides. Then come back to me with accurate information, and I’ll go with you. If it turns out he really is in the region, I’ll search for him among all the clans^[d] of Judah.” ²⁴ So they went to Ziph ahead of Saul.

Now David and his men were in the wilderness near Maon^(D) in the Arabah south of Jeshimon, ²⁵ and Saul and his men went to look for him. When David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. Saul heard of this and pursued David there.