Psalm 54 - New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

Psalm 54[a]

Confident Prayer in Great Peril

1 For the leader. On stringed instruments. A maskil of David, 2 when the Ziphites came and said to Saul, “David is hiding among us.”(A)

I

3 O God, by your name[b] save me.
By your strength defend my cause.
4 O God, hear my prayer.
Listen to the words of my mouth.
5 Strangers have risen against me;
the ruthless seek my life;
they do not keep God before them.(B)
Selah

II

6 God is present as my helper;(C)
the Lord sustains my life.
7 Turn back the evil upon my foes;
in your faithfulness, destroy them.(D)
8 Then I will offer you generous sacrifice
and give thanks to your name, Lord, for it is good.
9 Because it has rescued me from every trouble,
and my eyes look down on my foes.(E)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 54 A lament in which the person under attack calls directly upon God for help (Ps 54:3–5). Refusing to despair, the psalmist hopes in God, who is active in history and just (Ps 54:6–7). The Psalm ends with a serene promise to return thanks (Ps 54:8–9).
  2. 54:3 By your name: one is present in one’s name, hence God as revealed to human beings.

Cross references

  1. 54:2 : 1 Sm 23:19; 26:1.
  2. 54:5 : Ps 86:14.
  3. 54:6 : Ps 118:7.
  4. 54:7 : Ps 143:12.
  5. 54:9 : Ps 59:11; 91:8; 92:12.