Translations
Modern
Hear my prayer, O God; listen to the words of my mouth.
Traditional
Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.
Literal
O God, hear my prayer, give ear to the words of my mouth.
Latin
Deus, exaudi orationem meam; auribus percipe verba oris mei.
Original
Hebrew
English
Hear my prayer, O God; listen to the words of my mouth.
Notes
This personal lament was caused by violent and godless people (Psalm 54:3). The psalmist prays to God and focuses on God's help (54:4). He asks God to save him from evil and judge his enemies (Psalm 54:5, 7).
These psalms of David share a common theme. They reflect on the experience of evil. In Psalm 51, the psalmist admits his wrongdoing and asks for God's forgiveness. Psalms 52–64 express sorrow over specific evils David faced. A song of praise (Psalm 65) brings David's laments to an end.
Theme notes and profiles