1
(54-1) <Unto the end, in verses, understanding for David.> (54-2) Hear, O God, my prayer, and despise not my supplication:
2
(54-3) Be attentive to me and hear me. I am grieved in my exercise; and am troubled,
3
(54-4) At the voice of the enemy, and at the tribulation of the sinner. For they have cast iniquities upon me: and in wrath they were troublesome to me.
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(54-5) My heart is troubled within me: and the fear of death is fallen upon me.
5
(54-6) Fear and trembling are come upon me: and darkness hath covered me.
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(54-7) And I said: Who will give me wings like a dove, and I will fly and be at rest?
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(54-8) Lo, I have gone far off flying away; and I abode in the wilderness.
To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil [A Psalm] of David. The occasion of this psalm was either the persecution of Saul, or the conspiracy of Absalom. Some think it was written when David understood that the inhabitants of Keilah would deliver him into the hands of Saul, 1 Samuel 23:12; and others when the Ziphites attempted a second time to do the same, 1 Samuel 26:1; but since a single person is spoken of that magnified himself against him, Psalm 55:12; and Ahithophel seems to be designed; it may be thought rather to be written on account of Absalom's rebellion, and Ahithophel's counsel against him; who is considered by many Christian interpreters as a type of Judas, the betrayer of our Lord; and, indeed, there are many things in this psalm, if not the whole, which may be truly applied to Christ, as will be seen in the following exposition of it.