Psalms 54 (ASV)

Chapter Text

54:1 Save me, O God, by thy name, And judge me in thy might.

54:2 Hear my prayer, O God; Give ear to the words of my mouth.

54:3 For strangers are risen up against me, And violent men have sought after my soul: They have not set God before them. Selah

54:4 Behold, God is my helper: The Lord is of them that uphold my soul.

54:5 He will requite the evil unto mine enemies: Destroy thou them in thy truth.

54:6 With a freewill-offering will I sacrifice unto thee: I will give thanks unto thy name, O Jehovah, for it is good.

54:7 For he hath delivered me out of all trouble; And mine eye hath seen [my desire] upon mine enemies. Psalm 55 For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. Maschil of David.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "save", "name", "judge", "might", "hear", "prayer", "give", and "words". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "save" and "name", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The local ASV text gives this verse as the immediate unit, so "save" and "name" carries the first interpretive weight. In Psalms context, the local focus is worship, trust, the LORD's kingship, and covenant mercy.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "save" and "name" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.