TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 54

Listen to this chapter in Hebrew:

1For the leader; with instrumental music. A maskil of David,

אלַמְנַצֵּחַ בִּנְגִינֹת מַשְׂכִּיל לְדָוִד׃

2when the Ziphites came and told Shaul, “Know, David is in hiding among us.”

b'-VO ha-zee-FEEM va-yo-m'-RU l'-sha-UL ha-LO da-VID mis-ta-TAYR i-MA-nu

בבְּבוֹא הַזִּיפִים וַיֹּאמְרוּ לְשָׁאוּל הֲלֹא דָוִד מִסְתַּתֵּר עִמָּנוּ׃

54:2   The Ziphites

David sings in times of sadness, danger and fright, and of course he also sings in times of salvation, joy and triumph. One such episode of salvation is described in Shmuel I 23. The people of Ziph, a city in the portion of Yehuda, report David’s location to Shaul. Unaware of this betrayal, David dwells among the Ziphites until Shaul is close by, ready to end David’s life. The story reaches its climax with David on one side of a mountain in the wilderness of Maon, and Shaul on the other about to pounce. Miraculously, just as he is ready to strike, a messenger appears to Shaul, informing him that the Philistines are attacking and that he is needed elsewhere in the kingdom. David is able to flee, and later acknowledges Hashem’s graciousness and salvation in this psalm.

3O Hashem, deliver me by Your name; by Your power vindicate me.

גאֱלֹהִים בְּשִׁמְךָ הוֹשִׁיעֵנִי וּבִגְבוּרָתְךָ תְדִינֵנִי׃

4O Hashem, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth.

דאֱלֹהִים שְׁמַע תְּפִלָּתִי הַאֲזִינָה לְאִמְרֵי־פִי׃

5For strangers have risen against me, and ruthless men seek my life; they are unmindful of Hashem. Selah.

הכִּי זָרִים קָמוּ עָלַי וְעָרִיצִים בִּקְשׁוּ נַפְשִׁי לֹא שָׂמוּ אֱלֹהִים לְנֶגְדָּם סֶלָה׃

6See, Hashem is my helper; Hashem is my support.

והִנֵּה אֱלֹהִים עֹזֵר לִי אֲדֹנָי בְּסֹמְכֵי נַפְשִׁי׃

7He will repay the evil of my watchful foes; by Your faithfulness, destroy them!

זישוב [יָשִׁיב] הָרַע לְשֹׁרְרָי בַּאֲמִתְּךָ הַצְמִיתֵם׃

8Then I will offer You a freewill sacrifice; I will praise Your name, Hashem, for it is good,

חבִּנְדָבָה אֶזְבְּחָה־לָּךְ אוֹדֶה שִּׁמְךָ יְהֹוָה כִּי־טוֹב׃

9for it has saved me from my foes, and let me gaze triumphant upon my enemies.

טכִּי מִכָּל־צָרָה הִצִּילָנִי וּבְאֹיְבַי רָאֲתָה עֵינִי׃