Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Arrogant foes are attacking me; ruthless people are trying to kill me— people without regard for God. New Living Translation For strangers are attacking me; violent people are trying to kill me. They care nothing for God. Interlude English Standard Version For strangers have risen against me; ruthless men seek my life; they do not set God before themselves. Selah Berean Standard Bible For strangers rise up against me, and ruthless men seek my life—men with no regard for God. Selah King James Bible For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah. New King James Version For strangers have risen up against me, And oppressors have sought after my life; They have not set God before them. Selah New American Standard Bible For strangers have risen against me And violent men have sought my life; They have not set God before them. Selah NASB 1995 For strangers have risen against me And violent men have sought my life; They have not set God before them. Selah. NASB 1977 For strangers have risen against me, And violent men have sought my life; They have not set God before them. Selah. Legacy Standard Bible For strangers have risen against me And ruthless men have sought my life; They have not set God before them. Selah. Amplified Bible For strangers have risen against me And violent men have sought my life; They have not set God before them. Selah. Christian Standard Bible For strangers rise up against me, and violent men intend to kill me. They do not let God guide them. Selah Holman Christian Standard Bible For strangers rise up against me, and violent men seek my life. They have no regard for God. Selah American Standard Version For strangers are risen up against me, And violent men have sought after my soul: They have not set God before them. [Selah Contemporary English Version Cruel strangers have attacked and want me dead. Not one of them cares about you. English Revised Version For strangers are risen up against me, and violent men have sought after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah GOD'S WORD® Translation Strangers have attacked me. Ruthless people seek my life. They do not think about God. [Selah] Good News Translation Proud people are coming to attack me; cruel people are trying to kill me--those who do not care about God. International Standard Version For the arrogant have arisen against me; oppressors have sought to take my life. They do not keep God in mind! Interlude Majority Standard Bible For strangers rise up against me, and ruthless men seek my life?men with no regard for God. Selah NET Bible For foreigners attack me; ruthless men, who do not respect God, seek my life. (Selah) New Heart English Bible For strangers have risen up against me. Violent men have sought after my soul. They haven't set God before them. Selah. Webster's Bible Translation For strangers have risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah. World English Bible For strangers have risen up against me. Violent men have sought after my soul. They haven’t set God before them. Selah. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionFor strangers have risen up against me "" And terrible ones have sought my soul, "" They have not set God before them. Selah. Young's Literal Translation For strangers have risen up against me And terrible ones have sought my soul, They have not set God before them. Selah. Smith's Literal Translation For strangers rose up against me, and the powerful sought out my soul: they set not God before them. Silence. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleFor strangers have risen up against me; and the mighty have sought after my soul: and they have not set God before their eyes. Catholic Public Domain Version New American Bible Strangers have risen against me; the ruthless seek my life; they do not keep God before them. Selah New Revised Standard Version For the insolent have risen against me, the ruthless seek my life; they do not set God before them. Selah Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleFor strangers are risen up against me, and the mighty seek after my life; they have disregarded thee, O God. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Because foreigners stood up against me and the mighty have sought my soul and have not considered you, oh, God! OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917For strangers are risen up against me, And violent men have sought after my soul; They have not set God before them. Selah Brenton Septuagint Translation For strangers have risen up against me, and mighty men have sought my life: they have not set God before them. Pause. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Vindicate Me by Your Might…2Hear my prayer, O God; listen to the words of my mouth. 3For strangers rise up against me, and ruthless men seek my life— men with no regard for God. Selah 4Surely God is my helper; the Lord is the sustainer of my soul.… Cross References 1 Samuel 23:19 Then the Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon? 1 Samuel 26:1 Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding on the hill of Hachilah, opposite Jeshimon?” Psalm 86:14 The arrogant rise against me, O God; a band of ruthless men seeks my life; they have no regard for You. Psalm 140:1-2 For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men. Protect me from men of violence, / who devise evil in their hearts and stir up war all day long. Psalm 59:3 See how they lie in wait for me. Fierce men conspire against me for no transgression or sin of my own, O LORD. Psalm 10:2-3 In pride the wicked pursue the needy; let them be caught in the schemes they devise. / For the wicked man boasts in the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD. Psalm 17:9 from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me. Psalm 35:7 For without cause they laid their net for me; without reason they dug a pit for my soul. Psalm 41:5 My enemies say with malice: “When will he die and be forgotten?” Psalm 56:5-6 All day long they twist my words; all their thoughts are on my demise. / They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps while they wait to take my life. Psalm 64:1-2 For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Hear, O God, my voice of complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy. / Hide me from the scheming of the wicked, from the mob of workers of iniquity, Psalm 71:10-11 For my enemies speak against me, and those who lie in wait for my life conspire, / saying, “God has forsaken him; pursue him and seize him, for there is no one to rescue him.” Psalm 109:3 They surround me with hateful words and attack me without cause. Isaiah 29:20 For the ruthless will vanish, the mockers will disappear, and all who look for evil will be cut down— Jeremiah 18:18 Then some said, “Come, let us make plans against Jeremiah, for the law will never be lost to the priest, nor counsel to the wise, nor an oracle to the prophet. Come, let us denounce him and pay no heed to any of his words.” Treasury of Scripture For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah. strangers Psalm 69:8 I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children. Psalm 86:14 O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them. Job 19:13-15 He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me… oppressors Psalm 22:16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. Psalm 59:3-5 For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD… Matthew 27:20-23 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus… they have Psalm 16:8 I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Psalm 36:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD. The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes. Psalm 53:4 Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread: they have not called upon God. Jump to Previous Attacking Eyes Insolent Life Oppressors Purposing Regard Risen Ruthless Seek Selah Sought Soul Strangers Terrible ViolentJump to Next Attacking Eyes Insolent Life Oppressors Purposing Regard Risen Ruthless Seek Selah Sought Soul Strangers Terrible ViolentPsalm 54 1. David, complaining of the Ziphims, prays for salvation4. Upon his confidence in God's help he promises sacrifice For strangers rise up against me This phrase reflects the experience of David, who often faced opposition from those outside his immediate community. In the historical context, "strangers" could refer to foreign enemies or even Israelites who were not aligned with David. This is reminiscent of the time when David was pursued by King Saul and had to seek refuge among the Philistines (1 Samuel 27). The term "strangers" can also symbolize spiritual adversaries, representing forces that oppose God's anointed. This aligns with the broader biblical theme of God's people facing opposition from the world (John 15:18-19). and ruthless men seek my life— men with no regard for God. Selah Persons / Places / Events 1. DavidThe author of the psalm, who often faced persecution and threats from enemies, including King Saul and his own son Absalom. 2. Strangers Refers to those who are not part of David's community or covenant people, often seen as adversaries or outsiders. 3. Ruthless Men Individuals who are characterized by their lack of compassion and moral restraint, often seeking to harm David. 4. Ziphites In the context of Psalm 54, these were the people who betrayed David to Saul, as recorded in 1 Samuel 23. 5. God The central figure in whom David places his trust, contrasting the godlessness of his enemies. Teaching Points Trust in God Amidst AdversityDavid's response to threats is to turn to God, demonstrating a model of faith and reliance on divine protection. Understanding the Nature of Enemies Recognize that opposition often comes from those who do not acknowledge God, and this spiritual reality should inform our response. Prayer as a Weapon David's psalm is a prayer, reminding believers of the power of prayer in confronting challenges and seeking God's intervention. God's Sovereignty Over Human Affairs Despite the presence of ruthless men, God's sovereignty assures us that He is in control and will ultimately deliver His people. Living with Integrity In contrast to the godless, believers are called to live with integrity and trust in God's justice.(3) For strangers.--This verse, with some variations, occurs again (Psalm 86:14); some MSS. even reading here "proud," instead of "strangers." With the received reading we must understand by the word "foreign oppressors"--though, doubtless, the inscription of the Psalm may be defended by taking the word in a derived sense of those Israelites who have degenerated, and so deserve the name "aliens."Verse 3. - For strangers are risen up against me. David's designation of his foes as "strangers" has been made an argument against the trustworthiness of the "title," since the Ziphites were Israelites of the tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:55). But he might well call those "strangers" who were treating him as an alien. Comp. Psalm 120:5, where "the psalmist, heavily oppressed by his countrymen, complains that he dwelt in Mesheeh and Kedar" (Hengstenberg). And oppressors seek after my soul; or, my life. The phrase is exactly that used in 1 Samuel 23:15, when David was in the wilderness of Ziph, in a wood, and "saw that Saul was come out to seek his life." They have not set God before them (comp. Psalm 86:14). David, on the contrary, "set the Lord always before him" (Psalm 16:8). Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Forכִּ֤י (kî) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction strangers זָרִ֨ים ׀ (zā·rîm) Adjective - masculine plural Strong's 2114: To turn aside, to be a, foreigner, strange, profane, to commit adultery rise up קָ֤מוּ (qā·mū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 6965: To arise, stand up, stand against me, עָלַ֗י (‘ā·lay) Preposition | first person common singular Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against and ruthless וְֽ֭עָרִיצִים (wə·‘ā·rî·ṣîm) Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine plural Strong's 6184: Awe-inspiring, terror-striking men seek בִּקְשׁ֣וּ (biq·šū) Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 1245: To search out, to strive after my life— נַפְשִׁ֑י (nap̄·šî) Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion men with no לֹ֤א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no regard שָׂ֨מוּ (śā·mū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set for God. אֱלֹהִ֖ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative Selah סֶֽלָה׃ (se·lāh) Interjection Strong's 5542: Suspension, pause Links Psalm 54:3 NIVPsalm 54:3 NLT Psalm 54:3 ESV Psalm 54:3 NASB Psalm 54:3 KJV Psalm 54:3 BibleApps.com Psalm 54:3 Biblia Paralela Psalm 54:3 Chinese Bible Psalm 54:3 French Bible Psalm 54:3 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Psalm 54:3 For strangers have risen up against me (Psalm Ps Psa.) |
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