Psalms 54:1-6

1 {To the chief Musician. On stringed instruments: an instruction. Of David; when the Ziphites came, and said to Saul, Is not David hiding himself with us?} O God, by thy name save me, and by thy strength do me justice.

2 O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth.

3 For strangers are risen up against me, and the violent seek after my life: they have not set God before them. Selah.

4 Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is among them that uphold my soul.

5 He will requite evil to mine enemies: in thy truth cut them off.

6 I will freely sacrifice unto thee; I will praise thy name, O Jehovah, because it is good.

Psalms 54:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, [A Psalm] of David, when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us? Of the word "neginoth," See Gill on "Ps 4:1," title; and of "maschil," See Gill on "Ps 32:1," title. The occasion of writing this psalm were the discoveries the Ziphims or Ziphites made to Saul of David being in their neighbourhood; which they did twice, as appears from 1 Samuel 23:14. Which of these gave occasion to the psalm is not certain; it is very likely that it was composed after both had been made. These Ziphims were the inhabitants of a city called Ziph, which was in the tribe of Judah, Joshua 15:55, near to which was a wilderness, which had its name from the city in which David was when they came to Saul with this news of him.

Footnotes

• [a]. As Ps. 35.4.
• [b]. Or 'I will sacrifice a freewill offering.'
• [c]. See Note b, Ps. 42.5.
• [d]. Or 'thou art good.'