Psalms 54:1-6

1 (53-1) <Unto the end, in verses, understanding for David. (53-2) When the end of Ziph had come and said to Saul: Is not David hidden with us?> (53-3) Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me in thy strength.

2 (53-4) O God, hear my prayer: give ear to the words of my mouth.

3 (53-5) For strangers have risen up against me; and the mighty have sought after my soul: and they have not set God before their eyes.

4 (53-6) For behold God is my helper: and the Lord is the protector of my soul.

5 (53-7) Turn back the evils upon my enemies; and cut them off in thy truth.

6 (53-8) I will freely sacrifice to thee, and will give praise, O God, to thy name: 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.