Psalms 54 (DBY)

Chapter Text

54:1 {To the chief Musician. On stringed instruments: an instruction. Of David; when the Ziphites came, and said to Saul, Is not David hiding himself with us?} O God, by thy name save me, and by thy strength do me justice.

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

54:3 For strangers are risen up against me, and the violent seek after my life: they have not set God before them. Selah.

54:4 Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is among them that uphold my soul.

54:5 He will requite evil to mine enemies: in thy truth cut them off.

54:6 I will freely sacrifice unto thee; I will praise thy name, O Jehovah, because it is good.

54:7 For he hath delivered me out of all trouble; and mine eye hath seen [its desire] upon mine enemies.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "chief", "musician", "stringed", "instruments", "instruction", "david", "ziphites", and "came". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "chief" and "musician", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The local DBY text gives this verse as the immediate unit, so "chief" and "musician" 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 "chief" and "musician" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.