TRV
Translation
Complete Jewish Bible
May he repay the evil to those who are lying in wait for me. In your faithfulness, destroy them!
American Standard Version
He will requite the evil unto mine enemies: Destroy thou them in thy truth.
Young's Literal Translation
Turn back doth the evil thing to mine enemies, In Thy truth cut them off.
In the KJVVerse 14,731 of 31,102
Study This Verse
Commentary on Psalms 54 verses 4–7
4 ¶ Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.
5 He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth.
6 I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD; for it is good.
7 For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.
We have here the lively actings of David's faith in his prayer, by which he was assured that the issue would be comfortable, though the attempt upon him was formidable.
I. He was sure that he had God on his side, that God took his part (Psa 54:4); he speaks it with an air of triumph and exultation, Behold, God is my helper. If we be for him, he is for us; and, if he be for us, we shall have such help in him that we need not fear any power engaged against us. Though men and devils aim to be our destroyers, they shall not prevail while God is our helper: The Lord is with those that uphold my soul. Compare Psa 118:7, "The Lord taketh my part with those that help me. There are some that uphold me, and God is one of them; he is the principal one; none of them could help me if he did not help them." Every creature is that to us (and no more) that God makes it to be. He means, "The Lord is he that upholds my soul, and keeps me from tiring in my work and sinking under my burdens." He that by his providence upholds all things by his grace upholds the souls of his people. God, who will in due time save his people, does, in the mean time, sustain them and bear them up, so that the spirit he has made shall not fail before him.
II. God taking part with him, he doubted not but his enemies should both flee and fall before him (Psa 54:5): "He shall reward evil unto my enemies that observe me, seeking an opportunity to do me a mischief. The evil they designed against me the righteous God will return upon their own heads." David would not render evil to them, but he knew God would: I as a deaf man heard not, for thou wilt hear. The enemies we forgive, if they repent not, God will judge; and for this reason we must not avenge ourselves, because God has said, Vengeance is mine. But he prays, Cut them off in thy truth. This is not a prayer of malice, but a prayer of faith; for it has an eye to the word of God, and only desires the performance of that. There is truth in God's threatenings as well as in his promises, and sinners that repent not will find it so to their cost.
III. He promises to give thanks to God for all the experiences he had had of his goodness to him (Psa 54:6): I will sacrifice unto thee. Though sacrifices were expensive, yet, when God required that his worshippers should in that way praise him, David would not only offer them, but offer them freely and without grudging. All our spiritual sacrifices must, in this sense, be free-will-offerings; for God loves a cheerful giver. Yet he will not only bring his sacrifice, which was but the shadow, the ceremony; he will mind the substance: I will praise thy name. A thankful heart, and the calves of our lips giving thanks to his name, are the sacrifices God will accept: "I will praise thy name, for it is good. Thy name is not only great but good, and therefore to be praised. To praise thy name is not only what we are bound to, but it is good, it is pleasant, it is profitable; it is good for us (Psa 92:1); therefore I will praise thy name."
IV. He speaks of his deliverance as a thing done (Psa 54:7): I will praise thy name, and say, "He has delivered me; this shall be my song then." That which he rejoices in is a complete deliverance - He has delivered me from all trouble; and a deliverance to his heart's content - My eye has seen its desire upon my enemies, not seen them cut off and ruined, but forced to retreat, tidings being brought to Saul that the Philistines were upon him, Sa1 23:27, Sa1 23:28. All David desired was to be himself safe; when he saw Saul draw off his forces he saw his desire. He has delivered me from all trouble. Either, 1. With this thought David comforted himself when he was in distress: "He has delivered me from all trouble hitherto, and many a time I have gained my point, and seen my desire on my enemies; therefore he will deliver me out of this trouble." We should thus, in our greatest straits, encourage ourselves with our past experiences. Or, 2. With this thought he magnified his present deliverance when the fright was over, that it was an earnest of further deliverance. He speaks of the completing of his deliverance as a thing done, though he had as yet many troubles before him, because, having God's promise for it, he was as sure of it as if it had been done already. "He that has begun to deliver me from all troubles, and will at length give me to see my desire upon my enemies." This may perhaps point at Christ, of whom David was a type; God would deliver him out of all the troubles of his state of humiliation, and he was perfectly sure of it; and all things are said to be put under his feet; for, though we see not yet all things put under him, yet we are sure he shall reign till all his enemies be made his footstool, and he shall see his desire upon them. However, it is an encouragement to all believers to make that use of their particular deliverances which St. Paul does (like David here), Ti2 4:17, Ti2 4:18, He that delivered me from the mouth of the lion shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me to his heavenly kingdom.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 4–7. Public domain.
Copy as
Hilary of PoitiersAD 367
After this there is a return to the Person of God, to Whom the petition was at the first addressed: Destroy them by Your truth. Truth confounds falsehood, and lying is destroyed by truth. We have shown that the whole of the foregoing prayer is the utterance of that human nature in which the Son of God was born; so here it is the voice of human nature calling upon God the Father to destroy His enemies in His truth. What this truth is, stands beyond doubt; it is of course He Who said: I am the Life, the Way, the Truth. John 14:6 And the enemies were destroyed by the truth when, for all their attempts to win Christ's condemnation by false witness, they heard that He was risen from the dead and had to admit that He had resumed His glory in all the reality of Godhead. Ere long they found, in ruin and destruction by famine and war, their reward for crucifying God; for they condemned the Lord of Life to death, and paid no heed to God's truth displayed in Him through His glorious works. And thus the Truth of God destroyed them when He rose again to resume the majesty of His Father's Glory, and gave proof of the truth of that perfect Divinity which He possessed.
Now in view of our repeated, nay our unbroken assertion both that it was the Only-begotten Son of God Who was uplifted on the cross, and that He was condemned to death Who is eternal by virtue of the origin which is His by the nature which He derives from the eternal Father, it must be clearly understood that He was subjected to suffering of no natural necessity, but to accomplish the mystery of man's salvation; that He submitted to suffering of His own Will, and not under compulsion. And although this suffering did not belong to His nature as eternal Son, the immutability of God being proof against the assault of any derogatory disturbance, yet it was freely undertaken, and was intended to fulfil a penal function without, however, inflicting the pain of penalty upon the sufferer: not that the suffering in question was not of a kind to cause pain, but because the divine Nature feels no pain. God suffered, then, by voluntarily submitting to suffering; but although He underwent the sufferings in all the fullness of their force, which necessarily causes pain to the sufferers, yet He never so abandoned the powers of His Nature as to feel pain.
Augustine of HippoAD 430
Exposition on Psalm 54
"Turn away evil things unto mine enemies" [Psalm 54:5]. So however green they are, so however they flourish, for the fire they are being reserved. "In Your virtue destroy Thou them." Because to wit they flourish now, because to wit they spring up like grass: do not thou be a man unwise and foolish, so that by giving thought to these things thou perish for ever and ever. For, "Turn Thou away evil things unto mine enemies." For if you shall have place in the body of David Himself, in His virtue He will destroy them. These men flourish in the felicity of the world, perish in the virtue of God. Not in the same manner as they flourish, do they also perish: for they flourish for a time, perish for everlasting: flourish in unreal good things, perish in real torments. "In Your strength destroy," whom in Your weakness You have endured.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
Copy as
Continue studying Psalms 54:5 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
SefariaThe Hebrew text with Rashi and centuries of Jewish commentary.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
SUMMARY
Psalms 54:5 is a fervent prayer from King David, expressing profound trust in God's righteous judgment and unwavering character amidst intense personal peril. It encapsulates a powerful petition for divine intervention and vindication against his adversaries, grounded in the certainty that God will justly recompense evil and decisively remove those who oppose His truth and His anointed. This verse serves as a testament to David's reliance on God's sovereignty and faithfulness as the ultimate source of justice and deliverance in the face of malicious opposition.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: Psalms 54 is a psalm of lament and trust, characteristic of David's prayers during times of intense distress. It commences with an urgent plea for God to save and vindicate him, emphasizing the dire circumstances from which he seeks deliverance, as seen in Psalms 54:1. David vividly describes his enemies as "strangers" and "oppressors" who act without regard for God, highlighting their godless nature and the severity of their threat in Psalms 54:3. The psalm then pivots from a cry for help to a powerful expression of confidence in God's immediate presence and unwavering support, affirming God as his helper and sustainer in Psalms 54:4. Verse 5, the focal point of this commentary, serves as a confident declaration of God's impending judgment and retribution against his foes, naturally leading into David's subsequent vow of thanksgiving and freewill offerings upon the anticipated deliverance, as detailed in Psalms 54:6-7. This carefully constructed literary progression underscores David's spiritual journey from a state of profound desperation to one of assured hope and praise, rooted in his unwavering faith in divine intervention.
Historical & Cultural Context: The superscription to Psalms 54 provides crucial historical grounding, explicitly linking it to the period "when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us?" This refers to the tumultuous time when David was a fugitive from King Saul, who relentlessly pursued him out of deep-seated jealousy and fear of losing his divinely appointed throne. The Ziphites, inhabitants of a region within Judah, notoriously betrayed David's hiding place to Saul on two separate occasions, as meticulously recorded in 1 Samuel 23:19-24 and 1 Samuel 26:1-5. David's enemies, therefore, were not merely personal adversaries but individuals who actively sought to thwart God's sovereign plan for him as the anointed king of Israel. In a culture where personal vengeance was often a societal norm and expectation, David's decision to appeal to God for justice, rather than taking matters into his own hands, stands as a profound testament to his remarkable faith, spiritual maturity, and deep adherence to divine prerogative.
Key Themes: This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes pervasive throughout the Psalms and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it emphatically underscores the theme of Divine Justice, asserting God's immutable role as the ultimate judge who will not permit evil to go unpunished. David's profound confidence is firmly rooted in God's moral order, rather than in any human system of retribution. Secondly, the crucial phrase "in thy truth" introduces the foundational theme of God's Unwavering Faithfulness (Hebrew: 'emeth). God's judgment, as depicted here, is never arbitrary but is always perfectly consistent with His righteous character and His inviolable covenant promises. This divine attribute ensures that justice is perfectly balanced, deserved, and executed with absolute integrity. Lastly, the verse serves as a prime example of Reliance on God for Vindication, a recurring and central motif in Davidic psalms. Instead of seeking personal revenge or retaliation, David commend his cause entirely to the Lord, trusting implicitly that vengeance belongs to God alone, a principle later echoed and reinforced in the New Testament's instruction found in Romans 12:19. This profound reliance highlights a deep spiritual maturity and an unwavering trust in God's sovereign control over all circumstances.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalms 54:5 employs several potent literary devices that amplify its theological and emotional impact. The verse functions as a direct Petition within the broader framework of a Lament Psalm, where David appeals directly to God for intervention and vindication. It also contains strong elements of Declarative Trust, as David confidently asserts what God "shall" do, moving beyond mere supplication to a statement of assured divine action. The phrase "He shall reward evil unto mine enemies" utilizes Retribution Theology, a pervasive biblical concept where actions (evil) are understood to incur proportionate consequences (reward or recompense) from a divine judge. The specific action "cut them off" is a vivid Metaphor for the complete destruction or decisive removal of a threat, evoking a powerful sense of finality and irreversible divine action. Furthermore, the phrase "in thy truth" employs Metonymy, where "truth" (an essential attribute of God) stands for God's entire righteous character, His covenant faithfulness, and His unwavering moral standards, serving as the foundational justification and guarantee for the justice of His judgment. This rich interplay of devices imbues the verse with profound theological depth, grounding the plea for justice firmly in God's immutable and righteous nature.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 54:5 resonates deeply with the biblical understanding of God's active role in upholding justice and His unwavering commitment to His own character. It affirms that God is not a passive observer but an engaged sovereign who sees injustice, hears the cries of the oppressed, and will ultimately bring about righteous recompense. This divine justice is not arbitrary or capricious but is inextricably linked to God's 'emeth, His truth and faithfulness, which guarantees that His judgments are always just, consistent with His holy nature, and perfectly aligned with His moral order. For believers, this provides immense comfort and a profound framework for responding to persecution and betrayal: rather than seeking personal vengeance or retaliation, we are called to entrust our cause entirely to the Lord, knowing with certainty that He is the ultimate vindicator and the perfect judge. This perspective underpins the New Testament's call to love enemies and to leave judgment to God, trusting in His perfect timing and infallible method for setting all things right.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 54:5 offers a profound and enduring model for believers navigating the complexities of injustice, betrayal, or persecution in their own lives. In a world where wrongs often seem to go unpunished and evil appears to triumph, David's fervent prayer serves as a powerful reminder that our ultimate hope and vindication rest not in fallible human systems, personal retaliation, or immediate gratification, but in the sovereign and perfect justice of God. This verse calls us to cultivate a deep and unwavering trust in God's character, believing with conviction that He sees every hidden act of malice, every unjust accusation, and every oppressive deed. It assures us that in His perfect timing and according to His perfect truth, He will bring about righteous recompense. It challenges us to surrender our innate desire for immediate revenge, transforming it instead into a prayer for God's holy justice to prevail, trusting that His judgment is always just and true. By committing our cause fully to Him, we align ourselves with His divine prerogative and find profound peace in His unwavering faithfulness, knowing that He is fully capable of defending His own and fulfilling His purposes, even through the decisive removal of those who oppose His truth.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Is Psalms 54:5 a prayer for personal revenge?
Answer: No, Psalms 54:5 is not a prayer for personal revenge in the sense of vindictive or self-serving retaliation. While it expresses a desire for David's enemies to be "cut off," this petition is framed entirely within the context of God's righteous judgment and executed "in thy truth." David is appealing to God as the ultimate and infallible Judge, trusting Him to execute justice according to His perfect character and moral law. It reflects a deep theological understanding that vengeance belongs to God alone, as explicitly stated in Deuteronomy 32:35, and that His actions are always just, unlike potentially flawed or biased human retribution. David commits his cause to the Lord, demonstrating profound faith in divine sovereignty rather than taking matters into his own hands.
How does God's "truth" relate to His judgment in this verse?
Answer: The phrase "cut them off in thy truth" is foundational to understanding the nature of God's judgment here. God's "truth" (Hebrew: 'emeth) refers to His unwavering faithfulness, reliability, integrity, and adherence to reality. It means that God's judgment is never arbitrary, capricious, or based on whim, but is perfectly consistent with His holy nature and His covenant promises. His actions are always righteous, just, and aligned with the objective reality of His moral standards and divine order. Therefore, when David prays for his enemies to be cut off "in thy truth," he is asking God to act in accordance with His own just character, ensuring that the judgment is not only powerful and decisive but also perfectly deserved, morally upright, and righteous. It guarantees the moral rectitude of the divine intervention.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 54:5, a fervent plea for divine justice against David's human enemies, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. While David's adversaries were specific human oppressors, the New Testament reveals that humanity's true, ultimate enemies are the spiritual forces of sin, death, and the devil (Hebrews 2:14). Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, did not pray for His crucifiers to be cut off in the same manner, but rather, in an act of unparalleled grace, prayed for their forgiveness even as they nailed Him to the cross (Luke 23:34). Yet, His sacrificial death on the cross was God's decisive act of "rewarding evil" by comprehensively judging sin in the flesh, thereby bringing about atonement for humanity and breaking the formidable power of these spiritual adversaries (Romans 8:3). Through His glorious resurrection and triumphant ascension, Christ definitively "cut off" the dominion of death and hell, triumphing over all principalities and powers, disarming them and making a public spectacle of them (Colossians 2:15). The "truth" in which God acts is perfectly embodied in Jesus Himself, who authoritatively declared, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). Ultimately, the final recompense of all evil and the complete cutting off of all who stubbornly oppose God's truth will occur at Christ's glorious second coming, when He will judge the living and the dead and establish His eternal kingdom of perfect righteousness (Revelation 20:11-15). Thus, David's ancient prayer for justice is perfectly and eternally answered in the redemptive, victorious, and eschatological work of Christ.