Psalms 54:1-6

1 To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Contemplation of David when the Ziphites went and said to Saul, 'Is David not hiding with us?' Save me, O God, by Your name, And vindicate me by Your strength.

2 Hear my prayer, O God; Give ear to the words of my mouth.

3 For strangers have risen up against me, And oppressors have sought after my life; They have not set God before them. Selah

4 Behold, God is my helper; The Lord is with those who uphold my life.

5 He will repay my enemies for their evil. Cut them off in Your truth.

6 I will freely sacrifice to You; I will praise Your name, O Lord, for 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]. Hebrew neginoth
• [b]. Hebrew Maschil