Psalm 54: Save Me, O God, By Thy Name

A short cry for rescue from oppressors that ends in confident praise.

Psalm 54 - Save Me, O God, By Thy Name

Psalm 54 is David's brief plea, 'Save me, O God, by thy name,' spoken while strangers and oppressors rise up against him without regard for God, continuing the same danger described in Psalms 53.


For the Leader; with string-music. Maschil of David:

when the Ziphites came and said to Saul: 'Doth not David hide himself with us?'

O G-d, save me by Thy name, and right me by Thy might.

O G-d, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth.

For strangers are risen up against me, and violent men have sought after my soul; they have not set G-d before them. Selah

Behold, G-d is my helper; the L-rd is for me as the upholder of my soul.

He will requite the evil unto them that lie in wait for me; destroy Thou them in Thy truth.

With a freewill-offering will I sacrifice unto Thee; I will give thanks unto Thy name, O HaShem, for it is good.

For He hath delivered me out of all trouble; and mine eye hath gazed upon mine enemies.

The psalmist declares 'God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul,' a confidence matched in <a href="/bible/jps/hebrews/chapter-13/6">Hebrews 13:6</a>. The chapter closes with a vow of freewill sacrifice before the longer lament of <a href="/bible/jps/psalms/chapter-55">Psalms 55</a>.