Psalm 54 is a short prayer for rescue from betrayal, written, its title says, when the men of Ziph told Saul where David was hiding: “Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me in thy strength.” Its heart is a simple act of faith: “For behold God is my helper: and the Lord is the protector of my soul.” In the Douay-Rheims it is numbered Psalm 53. Below is the full Catholic text, what the psalm means, how the Church uses it, and a prayer.
Psalm 54 in the Douay-Rheims Bible
Unto the end, In verses, understanding for David.
When the men of Ziph had come and said to Saul: Is not David hidden with us?
Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me in thy strength.
O God, hear my prayer: give ear to the words of my mouth.
For strangers have risen up against me; and the mighty have sought after my soul: and they have not set God before their eyes.
For behold God is my helper: and the Lord is the protector of my soul.
Turn back the evils upon my enemies; and cut them off in thy truth.
I will freely sacrifice to thee, and will give praise, O God, to thy name: because it is good:
For thou hast delivered me out of all trouble: and my eye hath looked down upon my enemies.
Psalm 54 or Psalm 53?
The Douay-Rheims Bible follows the numbering of the Latin Vulgate and the Greek Septuagint, while most modern Bibles follow the Hebrew. So the Douay’s Psalm 53 is Psalm 54 in the New American Bible and other modern translations. In Latin the psalm begins Deus, in nomine tuo salvum me fac. See how many psalms are there?
What the psalm means
- Saved by God’s name: calling on God’s name means trusting in who he is.
- Betrayed by neighbors: the Ziphites gave David away.
- God is my helper: the turning point of the psalm.
- Free-will thanksgiving: “I will freely sacrifice to thee, and will give praise, O God, to thy name: because it is good.”
How the Church uses Psalm 54
- At Mass on the Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B): “The Lord upholds my life.”
- In the Liturgy of the Hours, at Midday Prayer.
- When betrayed or in danger. See psalms for protection.
A prayer with Psalm 54
Written for this page:
Save me, O God, by your name; defend me by your power.
Hear my prayer when others betray me.
You are my helper; the Lord upholds my life.
I will gladly offer you thanks, for your name is good. Amen.
Frequently asked questions
Where is “God is my helper; the Lord upholds my life”?
Psalm 54:6 in modern Bibles (53:6 in the Douay-Rheims: “For behold God is my helper: and the Lord is the protector of my soul”).
What is Psalm 54 about?
David’s prayer when the men of Ziph betrayed his hiding place to Saul, trusting God as his helper.
More psalms and prayers
Texts and sources
- Scripture: Psalm 53 (54), Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner), public domain.
- The prayer was written for this page.