Psalm 54

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To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David, when the Ziphites went and told Saul, “Is not David hiding among us?”

1-3  O God, in Your Name save me, and vindicate me by Your might. ² O God, hear my prayer. Give ear to the words of my mouth. ³ For strangers have risen against me; ruthless men seek my soul. They do not set God before themselves. Selah ⁴

4-7  Look! God is helping me. My Master is supporting my soul. ⁵ He will return the evil to those who lie in wait for me. By Your truth put an end to them. ⁶ With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to You. I will give thanks to Your name, Adonai, for it is good. ⁷ For He has delivered me from every trouble, and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.

שורר (shoreir)

REFERENCES:

Attribution

1Samuel 23:15,19  David saw that Saul had come out to seek his soul. David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh. Then the Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah, which is south of Jeshimon?”

‎Joshua 15:21,24,44  The cities belonging to the tribe of the people of Judah in the extreme south, toward the boundary of Edom, were Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur … Ziph, Telem, Bealoth … Keilah, Achzib, and Mareshah: nine cities with their villages.

Verse 3

1Samuel 23:15  David saw that Saul had come out to seek his soul (נפש, nephesh). David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh.

Psalm 86:14  O God, insolent men have risen up against me; a band of ruthless men seeks my life, and they do not set You before them.

Psalm 16:8  I have set Adonai always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

Verse 4

1Samuel 23:26-28  Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. And David was hurrying to get away from Saul. As Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them, a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid against the land.” So Saul returned from pursuing after David and went against the Philistines. Therefore that place was called the Rock of Escape.

“Even though a sharp sword is resting upon your neck, do not despair of God’s mercy.” (b.Berachot 10a)

Verse 5

Psalm 5:9  Lead me, Adonai, in Your righteousness because of those lying in wait (שורר, shoreir) for me. Make Your way straight before me.

“those who lie in wait” (שוררים, shoreirim) – R’ S.R. Hirsch defines such people as “those who lie in wait, those who seek to find something they deem blameworthy in another person.”

Proverbs 26:27  Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.