Psalm 54
Psalm 54 is the 54th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength". In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 53. In Latin, it is known as "Deus in nomine tuo salvum me fac", Attributed to David, it was written for one who finds oneself betrayed by a friend.
The psalm forms a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Protestant liturgies.
Commentary
The historical setting of this short Psalm is given in its title, almost a direct quotation from . It is considered one of the psalms containing prayers against false accusations, linked with an ordeal, the taking of an oath, or an appeal to the 'higher court', as indicated in the following points:- The phrase 'vindicate me'
- A royal perspective of opponents as 'strangers', 'the ruthless', and 'enemies'
- A prayer before battle appealing to God as personal savior with a covenant 'faithfulness'.
Verses 1-3 pray for help and answer. Following an appeal, the psalmist describes the danger facing him, but maintains his confidence in God. In the second half of the psalm, the poet, in the certainty of being heard, rejoices in help, and makes a vow of thanksgiving, he promises to sacrifice a free-will offering to express 'the voluntary gratitude of a thankful heart'.
Uses
Coptic Orthodox Church
In the Agpeya, the Coptic Church's book of hours, this psalm is prayed in the office of Sext.Book of Common Prayer
In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, this psalm is appointed to be read on the evening of the tenth day of the month.The Psalm is a Proper Psalm for Mattins on Good Friday.
Musical settings
set Psalm 54 in a metred version in German, "Hilf mir, Gott, durch den Namen dein", SWV 151, as part of the Becker Psalter, first published in 1628. Alan Hovhaness set text from this Psalm and from Psalms 55 and 56 in his choral work Make a Joyful Noise.Text
The following table shows the Hebrew text of the Psalm with vowels, alongside the Koine Greek text in the Septuagint and the English translation from the King James Version. Note that the meaning can slightly differ between these versions, as the Septuagint and the Masoretic Text come from different textual traditions. In the Septuagint, this psalm is numbered Psalm 53.| # | Hebrew | English | Greek |
| ἐν τῷ ἐλθεῖν τοὺς Ζιφαίους καὶ εἰπεῖν τῷ Σαούλ· οὐκ ἰδοὺ Δαυΐδ κέκρυπται παρ᾿ ἡμῖν; - | |||
| 1 | Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength. | Ο ΘΕΟΣ, ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί σου σῶσόν με καὶ ἐν τῇ δυνάμει σου κρῖνόν με. | |
| 2 | Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth. | ὁ Θεός, εἰσάκουσον τῆς προσευχῆς μου, ἐνώτισαι τὰ ῥήματα τοῦ στόματός μου. | |
| 3 | For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah. | ὅτι ἀλλότριοι ἐπανέστησαν ἐπ᾿ ἐμὲ καὶ κραταιοὶ ἐζήτησαν τὴν ψυχήν μου καὶ οὐ προέθεντο τὸν Θεὸν ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν.. | |
| 4 | Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul. | ἰδοὺ γὰρ ὁ Θεὸς βοηθεῖ μοι, καὶ ὁ Κύριος ἀντιλήπτωρ τῆς ψυχῆς μου. | |
| 5 | He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth. | ἀποστρέψει τὰ κακὰ τοῖς ἐχθροῖς μου· ἐν τῇ ἀληθείᾳ σου ἐξολόθρευσον αὐτούς. | |
| 6 | I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD; for it is good. | ἑκουσίως θύσω σοι, ἐξομολογήσομαι τῷ ὀνόματί σου, Κύριε, ὅτι ἀγαθόν· | |
| 7 | For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies. | ὅτι ἐκ πάσης θλίψεως ἐρρύσω με, καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἐχθροῖς μου ἐπεῖδεν ὁ ὀφθαλμός μου. |
The Ziphims lived in the wilderness of Ziph, a district to the south-east of Hebron in the Judean mountains.