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Prayer for Defense against Enemies.

To the Chief Musician; with stringed instruments. A skillful song, or a didactic or reflective poem, of David, when the Ziphites went and told Saul, “David is hiding among us.”

54 Save me, O God, by Your name;
And vindicate me by Your [wondrous] power.

Hear my prayer, O God;
Listen to the words of my mouth.

For strangers have risen against me
And violent men have sought my life;
They have not set God before them. Selah.


Behold, God is my helper and ally;
The Lord is the sustainer of my soul [my upholder].

He will pay back the evil to my enemies;
In Your faithfulness destroy them.


With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to You;
I will give thanks and praise Your name, O Lord, for it is good.

For He has rescued me from every trouble,
And my eye has looked with satisfaction (triumph) on my enemies.

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.