Psalm 54:1
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New International Version (©1984)
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil of David. When the Ziphites had gone to Saul and said, "Is not David hiding among us?" Save me, O God, by your name; vindicate me by your might.

New Living Translation (©2007)
For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time the Ziphites came and said to Saul, "We know where David is hiding." To be accompanied by stringed instruments. Come with great power, O God, and rescue me! Defend me with your might.

English Standard Version (©2001)
To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David, when the Ziphites went and told Saul, “Is not David hiding among us?” O God, save me by your name, and vindicate me by your might.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
For the choir director; on stringed instruments. A Maskil of David, when the Ziphites came and said to Saul, "Is not David hiding himself among us?" Save me, O God, by Your name, And vindicate me by Your power.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
[For the choir director; on stringed instruments; a [maskil] by David when people from the city of Ziph told Saul that David was hiding among them.] O God, save me by your name, and defend me with your might.

King James Bible
Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.

American King James Version
Save me, O God, by your name, and judge me by your strength.

American Standard Version
Save me, O God, by thy name, And judge me in thy might.

Bible in Basic English
<To the chief music-maker; on Neginoth. Maschil. Of David. When the Ziphites came and said to Saul, Is not David keeping himself secret among us?> Let your name be my salvation, O God; let my cause be judged by your strength.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me in thy strength.

Darby Bible Translation
{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.

English Revised Version
For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. Maschil of David: when the Ziphites came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us? Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me in thy might.

Webster's Bible Translation
To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us? Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.

World English Bible
Save me, God, by your name. Vindicate me in your might.

Young's Literal Translation
To the Overseer with stringed instruments. -- An instruction, by David, in the coming in of the Ziphim, and they say to Saul, 'Is not David hiding himself with us?' O God, by Thy name save me, and by Thy might judge me.

Geneva Study Bible

<A Psalm of David, when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us?>> Save me, O God, {a} by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.

(a) He declares that when all means fail, God will deliver even by miracle, they who call to him with an upright conscience.

Wesley's Notes

54:1 Name - By thy own strength. Judge - Plead my cause.

King James Translators' Notes

chief...: or, overseer

Maschil: or, of instruction

Scofield Reference Notes

Margin Neginoth

Neginoth, stringed instrucments.

Margin Maschil

Maschil, "instruction."

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

PSALM 54

Ps 54:1-7. See on [596]Ps 4:1, title; [597]Ps 32:1, title; for the history, see 1Sa 23:19, 29; 26:1-25. After an earnest cry for help, the Psalmist promises praise in the assurance of a hearing.

1. by thy name-(Ps 5:11), specially, power.

judge me-as in Ps 7:8; 26:1.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

54:1-3 God is faithful, though men are not to be trusted, and it is well for us it is so. David has no other plea to depend upon than God's name, no other power to depend upon than God's strength, and these he makes his refuge and confidence. This would be the effectual answer to his prayers. Looking unto David, betrayed by the men of Judah, and to Jesus, betrayed by one of his apostles, what can we expect from any who have not set God before them, save ingratitude, treachery, malice, and cruelty? What bonds of nature, or friendship, or gratitude, or covenant, will hold those that have broken through the fear of God? Selah; Mark this. Let us set God before us at all times; for if we do not, we are in danger of despair.


1 Samuel 23:19 Then Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, "Is David not hiding with us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?
2 Chronicles 20:6 and he said, "O LORD, the God of our fathers, are You not God in the heavens? And are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can stand against You.
Psalm 20:1 For the choir director. A Psalm of David. May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high!
Psalm 26:1 A Psalm of David. Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, And I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. (NASB ©1995)

Cause Chief Contemplation David Director Hide Hiding Instruments Judge Judged Leader Maschil Music Musician Neginoth Power Psalm Saul Save Secret Strength Stringed String-Music Vindicate Ziphites


Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.

1-3 David, complaining of the Ziphims, prays for salvation 4-7 Upon his confidence in God's help he promises sacrifice

A.M. 2943 B.C. 1061 (Title.) Ziphims. 1Sa 23:19,20 26:1 Mic 7:5,6 Mt 10:21

by the name Ps 20:1 48:10 79:9 Ex 3:14,15 23:21 34:5,6 Pr 18:10 Isa 30:27 Mt 1:21,23 Ac 4:12

judge Ps 26:1 43:1,2 99:4 Pr 23:11 Jer 50:34

Bible Gateway: Psalms Chapter 54 Verse 1 NIV ESV NKJV NLT KJV Message Amplified

Alphabetical: A among and by David director For God gone had hiding instruments Is maskil me might music name not O of power said Saul Save stringed the to us vindicate When With your Ziphites

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