Psalm 54: Cry for Relief. To Overcome the Fear of Death.

David’s cruel enemies, and his disloyal friend. Foremost among his enemies is one who was formerly his intimate companion. The psalmist pleads for help, and exhorts himself to trust in God.

Parallel Latin-English Psalter: Psalms Index

Psalm 54: Prayer Audio in Latin

{54:1} In finem, In carminibus, intellectus David.
{54:1} Unto the end. In verses, the understanding of David.

{54:2} Exaudi Deus orationem meam, et ne despexeris deprecationem meam:
{54:2} Listen to my prayer, O God, and despise not my supplication.

{54:3} intende mihi, et exaudi me. Contristatus sum in exercitatione mea: et conturbatus sum
{54:3} Be attentive to me, and heed me. I have been grieved in my training, and I have been disturbed

{54:4} a voce inimici, et a tribulatione peccatoris. Quoniam declinaverunt in me iniquitates, et in ira molesti erant mihi.
{54:4} at the voice of the adversary and at the tribulation of the sinner. For they have diverted iniquities toward me, and they have been harassing me with rage.

{54:5} Cor meum conturbatum est in me: et formido mortis cecidit super me.
{54:5} My heart has become disturbed within me, and the dread of death has fallen over me.

{54:6} Timor et tremor venerunt super me: et contexerunt me tenebræ:
{54:6} Fear and trembling have overwhelmed me, and darkness has buried me.

{54:7} Et dixi: Quis dabit mihi pennas sicut columbæ, et volabo, et requiescam?
{54:7} And I said, “Who will give me wings like the dove, so that I may fly away and take rest?”

{54:8} Ecce elongavi fugiens: et mansi in solitudine.
{54:8} Behold, I have fled far away, and I linger in solitude.

{54:9} Expectabam eum, qui salvum me fecit a pusillanimitate spiritus, et tempestate.
{54:9} I waited for him who saved me from a weak-minded spirit and from a tempest.

{54:10} Præcipita Domine, divide linguas eorum: quoniam vidi iniquitatem, et contradictionem in civitate.
{54:10} Cast them down, O Lord, and divide their tongues. For I have seen iniquity and contradiction in the city.

{54:11} Die ac nocte circumdabit eam super muros eius iniquitas: et labor in medio eius,
{54:11} Day and night, iniquity will surround it upon its walls, and hardship is in its midst,

{54:12} et iniustitia. Et non defecit de plateis eius usura et dolus.
{54:12} with injustice. And usury and deceit have not fallen away from its streets.

{54:13} Quoniam si inimicus meus maledixisset mihi, sustinuissem utique. Et si is, qui oderat me, super me magna locutus fuisset: abscondissem me forsitan ab eo.
{54:13} For if my enemy had spoken evil about me, certainly, I would have sustained it. And if he who hated me had been speaking great things against me, I would perhaps have hidden myself from him.

{54:14} Tu vero homo unanimis: dux meus, et notus meus:
{54:14} Truly, you are a man of one mind: my leader and my acquaintance,

{54:15} Qui simul mecum dulces capiebas cibos: in domo Dei ambulavimus cum consensu.
{54:15} who took sweet food together with me. In the house of God, we walked side-by-side.

{54:16} Veniat mors super illos: et descendant in infernum viventes: Quoniam nequitiæ in habitaculis eorum: in medio eorum.
{54:16} Let death come upon them, and let them descend alive into Hellfire. For there is wickedness in their dwellings, in their midst.

{54:17} Ego autem ad Deum clamavi: et Dominus salvabit me.
{54:17} But I have cried out to God, and the Lord will save me.

{54:18} Vespere, et mane, et meridie narrabo et annuntiabo: et exaudiet vocem meam.
{54:18} Evening and morning and midday, I will discourse and announce, and he will heed my voice.

{54:19} Redimet in pace animam meam ab his, qui appropinquant mihi: quoniam inter multos erant mecum.
{54:19} He will redeem my soul in peace from those who draw near to me. For, among the many, they were with me.

{54:20} Exaudiet Deus, et humiliabit illos, qui est ante sæcula. Non enim est illis commutatio, et non timuerunt Deum:
{54:20} God will hear, and He who is before time will humble them. For there is no change with them, and they have not feared God.

{54:21} extendit manum suam in retribuendo. Contaminaverunt testamentum eius,
{54:21} He has stretched forth his hand in retribution. They have contaminated his covenant.

{54:22} divisi sunt ab ira vultus eius: et appropinquavit cor illius. Molliti sunt sermones eius super oleum: et ipsi sunt iacula.
{54:22} They were divided by the wrath of his countenance, and his heart has drawn near. His words are smoother than oil, and they are arrows.

{54:23} Iacta super Dominum curam tuam, et ipse te enutriet: non dabit in æternum fluctuationem iusto.
{54:23} Cast your cares upon the Lord, and he will nurture you. He will not allow the just to be tossed about forever.

{54:24} Tu vero Deus deduces eos, in puteum interitus. Viri sanguinum, et dolosi non dimidiabunt dies suos: ego autem sperabo in te Domine.
{54:24} Truly, O God, you will lead them away into the well of death. Bloody and deceitful men will not divide their days in half. But I will hope in you, O Lord.