Psalm 54:1–4

Title For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil of David.

1 Listen to my prayer, O God,

do not ignore my plea;

2 hear me and answer me.

My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught

3 because of what my enemy is saying,

because of the threats of the wicked;

for they bring down suffering on me

and assail me in their anger.

Title To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David.

1 Give ear to my prayer, O God,

and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy!

2 Attend to me, and answer me;

I am restless in my complaint and I moan,

3 because of the noise of the enemy,

because of the oppression of the wicked.

For they drop trouble upon me,

and in anger they bear a grudge against me.

Title To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David.

1 Give ear to my prayer, O God;

And hide not thyself from my supplication.

2 Attend unto me, and hear me:

I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;

3 Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked:

For they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.

Title For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by stringed instruments.

1 Listen to my prayer, O God.

Do not ignore my cry for help!

2 Please listen and answer me,

for I am overwhelmed by my troubles.

3 My enemies shout at me,

making loud and wicked threats.

They bring trouble on me

and angrily hunt me down.

Title To the Chief Musician. With Contemplation of David.

1 Give ear to my prayer, O God,

And do not hide Yourself from my supplication.

2 Attend to me, and hear me;

I am restless in my complaint, and moan noisily,

3 Because of the voice of the enemy,

Because of the oppression of the wicked;

For they bring down trouble upon me,

And in wrath they hate me.

Title For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil of David.

1 God, listen to my prayer

and do not ignore my cry for help.

2 Pay attention to me and answer me.

I am troubled and upset

3 by what the enemy says

and how the wicked look at me.

They bring troubles down on me,

and in anger they attack me.

Title For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. Maschil of David.

1 Give ear to my prayer, O God;

And hide not thyself from my supplication.

2 Attend unto me, and answer me:

I am restless in my complaint, and moan,

3 Because of the voice of the enemy,

Because of the oppression of the wicked;

For they cast iniquity upon me,

And in anger they persecute me.

Title To the chief Musician. On stringed instruments: an instruction. Of David.

1 Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication. 2 Attend unto me, and answer me: I wander about in my plaint, and I moan aloud, 3 Because of the voice of the enemy; because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in anger they persecute me.

Title For the choir director; on stringed instruments; a maskil by David. 

1 Open your ears to my prayer, O God. 

Do not hide from my plea for mercy. 

2 Pay attention to me, and answer me. 

My thoughts are restless, and I am confused 

3 because my enemy shouts at me 

and a wicked person persecutes me. 

They bring misery crashing down on me, 

and they attack me out of anger. 

Title For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A Davidic Maskil.

1 God, listen to my prayer

and do not ignore my plea for help.

2 Pay attention to me and answer me.

I am restless and in turmoil with my complaint,

3 because of the enemy’s voice,

because of the pressure of the wicked.

For they bring down disaster on me

and harass me in anger.

Title To the leader: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David.

1 Give ear to my prayer, O God;

do not hide yourself from my supplication.

2 Attend to me and answer me;

I am troubled in my complaint.

I am distraught 3 by the noise of the enemy,

because of the clamor of the wicked.

For they bring trouble upon me,

and in anger they bear a grudge against me.

Title For the music director, with stringed instruments.

A maskil of David.

1 Give ear, O God, to my prayer,

and do not hide yourself from my plea.

2 Attend to me and answer me.

I am restless in my lamenting and I groan,

3 because of the voice of an enemy,

because of the oppression of the wicked,

because they bring down evil on me,

and in anger they hold a grudge against me.

Title For the director of music. A maskil of David to be played on stringed instruments.

1 God, listen to my prayer.

Pay attention to my cry for help.

2 Hear me and answer me.

My thoughts upset me. I’m very troubled.

3 I’m troubled by what my enemies say about me.

I’m upset because sinful people stare at me.

They cause me all kinds of suffering.

When they are angry, they attack me with their words.

Title For the choir director; on stringed instruments. A Maskil of David.

1 Give ear to my prayer, O God;

And do not hide Yourself from my supplication.

2 Give heed to me and answer me;

I am restless in my complaint and am surely distracted,

3 Because of the voice of the enemy,

Because of the pressure of the wicked;

For they bring down trouble upon me

And in anger they bear a grudge against me.