Psalms 54

Save me, God, by the power of who you are. Defend my case and clear my name by your strength.

1Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.

NoteTwo things in this verse read oddly in the King James. "By thy name": in Hebrew a person's name stands for everything they are known to be (their character, reputation and power), so this asks God to act as the God he is known to be, not to use a word as a formula. "Judge me" is not a request to be condemned; it is a courtroom word for deciding a case in someone's favor, give the verdict for me, clear me.

2Listen to my prayer, God. Pay attention to the words I am saying.

2Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.

3Strangers have risen up to attack me. Violent men are trying to kill me. They pay no attention to God at all. Selah.

3For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.

NoteThree notes here. "Strangers" translates a Hebrew word for outsiders (people with no bond of kinship or loyalty to the speaker; some Hebrew manuscripts, and the near-identical line in Psalm 86:14, read a word differing by one letter that means insolent or arrogant men. "Soul" translates nephesh, which means a person's life or self rather than a separate immaterial part, so "seek after my soul" is ordinary Hebrew for trying to kill someone. "Selah" is a Hebrew term scattered through the Psalms, usually at a break in the thought; its meaning was already uncertain to ancient translators and it is generally taken as a musical or performance direction) a pause, or a cue to the instruments, so it is left untranslated.

4Look: God is the one who helps me. The Lord is the one who keeps me alive.

4Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.

NoteThe Hebrew reads literally "the Lord is among those who uphold my life." It is an idiom of emphasis rather than a list: of everyone propping me up, the Lord is the one who actually counts.

5He will pay my enemies back with the evil they meant for me. Because you keep your word, put an end to them.

5He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth.

Note"Reward" in 1611 English simply meant to pay back, whether good or bad; here it is repayment of harm. "Truth" translates a Hebrew word meaning reliability or faithfulness, God keeping his word, rather than truth as the opposite of falsehood.

6I will bring you an offering gladly, because I want to. I will thank you and praise who you are, LORD, because you are good.

6I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD; for it is good.

Note"Freely sacrifice" refers to a freewill offering: an animal or gift brought voluntarily, not because a vow or the law required it. The point is that nothing compelled the giver. Also, where the King James prints LORD in capitals it is standing in for the personal name of God, four Hebrew letters usually written YHWH, which Jewish readers did not say aloud; the ordinary "Lord" in verse 4 renders a different word, adonai, meaning master.

7You have rescued me out of every trouble, and I have looked my enemies in the face.

7For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.

NoteThe words "his desire" are not in the Hebrew, the King James translators supplied them to fill out the sense, and some editions print them in italics to show this. The Hebrew says only "my eye has looked on my enemies," an idiom for seeing one's foes brought down and being able to face them without fear.