Psalms 54:1-8

1 in finem in carminibus intellectus David

2 exaudi Deus orationem meam et ne despexeris deprecationem meam

3 intende mihi et exaudi me contristatus sum in exercitatione mea et conturbatus sum

4 a voce inimici et a tribulatione peccatoris quoniam declinaverunt in me iniquitatem et in ira molesti erant mihi

5 cor meum conturbatum est in me et formido mortis cecidit super me

6 timor et tremor venit super me et contexit me tenebra

7 et dixi quis dabit mihi pinnas sicut columbae et volabo et requiescam

8 ecce elongavi fugiens et mansi in solitudine diapsalma

Psalms 54:1-8 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.