Psalm 54

Expanded Bible

A Prayer for Help

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A ·maskil [skillful psalm; meditation] of David when the Ziphites went to Saul and said, “·We think David is [^LIs not David…?] hiding among ·our people [^Lus; 1 Sam. 23:13–29; 26:1].”

54 God, ·save [give victory to] me ·because of who you are [^Lby your name].
    By your ·strength [^Lname] ·show that I am innocent [contend for me].
²Hear my prayer, God;
    ·listen [^Lgive ear] to ·what I say [^Lthe speech of my mouth].
³Strangers ·turn [^Lrise up] against me,
    and ·cruel people want to kill me [^Lviolent people seek my life].
They do not ·care about God [think about God; ^Lset God before them]. ·Selah [Interlude]

⁴·See [^TBehold], God ·will help me [^Lis my helper];
the Lord ·will support me [^Lis with/or among those who uphold me].
⁵Let ·my enemies be punished with their own evil [^Levil return to my enemies].
·Destroy [Put an end to] them because ·you are loyal to me [^Lof your faithfulness].

⁶I will ·offer a sacrifice as a special gift [sacrifice a freewill offering] to you.
I will ·thank [praise] ·you [^Lyour name], Lord, because you are good.
⁷You have ·saved [rescued] me from all my ·troubles [distress],
and ·I have seen my enemies defeated [^Lmy eyes have looked on my enemies].

Psalm 54

New International Version

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?”

¹Save me^(B), O God, by your name;^(C)
vindicate me by your might.^(D)
²Hear my prayer, O God;^(E)
listen to the words of my mouth.

³Arrogant foes are attacking me;^(F)
ruthless people^(G) are trying to kill me^(H)—
people without regard for God.^[c]^(I)

⁴Surely God is my help;^(J)
the Lord is the one who sustains me.^(K)

⁵Let evil recoil^(L) on those who slander me;
in your faithfulness^(M) destroy them.

⁶I will sacrifice a freewill offering^(N) to you;
I will praise^(O) your name, Lord, for it is good.^(P)
⁷You have delivered me^(Q) from all my troubles,
and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes.^(R)

Footnotes

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

Expanded Bible (EXB)

New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 54

Expanded Bible

A Prayer for Help

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A ·maskil [skillful psalm; meditation] of David when the Ziphites went to Saul and said, “·We think David is [^LIs not David…?] hiding among ·our people [^Lus; 1 Sam. 23:13–29; 26:1].”

Psalm 54

New International Version

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?”

Footnotes

Cross references

More on the NIV

Psalm 54 Expanded Bible

A Prayer for Help

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A ·maskil [skillful psalm; meditation] of David when the Ziphites went to Saul and said, “·We think David is [L Is not David…?] hiding among ·our people [L us; 1 Sam. 23:13–29; 26:1].”

Psalm 54 New International Version

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?”

Footnotes

Cross references

More on the NIV

Psalm 54

Expanded Bible

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A ·maskil [skillful psalm; meditation] of David when the Ziphites went to Saul and said, “·We think David is [^LIs not David…?] hiding among ·our people [^Lus; 1 Sam. 23:13–29; 26:1].”

Psalm 54

New International Version

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?”