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Psalm 54[a]

Confident Prayer in Great Peril

For the leader. On stringed instruments. A maskil of David, when the Ziphites came and said to Saul, “David is hiding among us.”(A)

I

O God, by your name[b] save me.
    By your strength defend my cause.
O God, hear my prayer.
    Listen to the words of my mouth.
Strangers have risen against me;
    the ruthless seek my life;
    they do not keep God before them.(B)
Selah

II

God is present as my helper;(C)
    the Lord sustains my life.
Turn back the evil upon my foes;
    in your faithfulness, destroy them.(D)
Then I will offer you generous sacrifice
    and give thanks to your name, Lord, for it is good.
Because it has rescued me from every trouble,
    and my eyes look down on my foes.(E)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 54 A lament in which the person under attack calls directly upon God for help (Ps 54:3–5). Refusing to despair, the psalmist hopes in God, who is active in history and just (Ps 54:6–7). The Psalm ends with a serene promise to return thanks (Ps 54:8–9).
  2. 54:3 By your name: one is present in one’s name, hence God as revealed to human beings.

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?”

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

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

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

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

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

Footnotes

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