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To the Director: With stringed instruments. A Davidic instruction,[a] when the Ziphites came and told Saul, “David is hiding among us, is he not?”

A Prayer in Times of Trouble

54 God, by your name deliver me,
    and by your power vindicate me.
God, listen to my prayer,
    and pay attention to the words of my mouth.
For the arrogant have arisen against me;
    oppressors have sought to take my life.
They do not keep God in mind![b]
Interlude

Look, God is my helper;
    the Lord is with those who are guarding my life.
He will turn the evil upon those who lie in wait for me.
    Cut them off with your truth.

With a free will offering I will sacrifice to you;
    I will give thanks to your name, Lord,
        because it is good,
for he has delivered me from every trouble,
    and my eyes have seen the end of[c] my enemies.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 54:1 Lit. maskil
  2. Psalm 54:3 Lit. before them
  3. Psalm 54:7 The Heb. lacks the end of

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.