1Salva-me, ó Deus, pelo teu nome, e faze-me justiça pelo teu poder.
2Ó Deus, ouve a minha oração, inclina os teus ouvidos ás palavras da minha bocca.
3Porque os estranhos se levantam contra mim, e tyrannos procuram a minha vida: não teem posto Deus perante os seus olhos (Selah).
4Eis que Deus é o meu ajudador, o Senhor está com aquelles que susteem a minha alma.
5Elle recompensará com o mal aquelles que me andam espiando: destroe-os na tua verdade.
6Eu te offerecerei voluntariamente sacrificios, louvarei o teu nome ó Senhor, porque é bom.
7Pois me tem livrado de toda a angustia; e os meus olhos viram o meu desejo sobre os meus inimigos.
📖 Chapter study
Summary
David pleads for urgent rescue from strangers and ruthless men seeking his life, affirms that God is his helper, and promises to offer a sacrifice of gratitude when he is delivered from all distress.
Explanation
The title links this short psalm to the moment when the Ziphites (inhabitants of a region in the wilderness of Judah) betrayed David, revealing his hiding place to Saul (1 Samuel 23:19-29 and 26:1) — an example of how even seeming allies could turn against him out of self-interest. Despite its brevity, the psalm follows the classic pattern of lament: an urgent plea, an affirmation of trust in God as helper, and a promise of future gratitude. Today's application: even in the face of unexpected betrayals, it is possible to cry out to God with the assurance that He stands on the side of those who trust Him.
Fun facts
- The Ziphites, mentioned in the title, betrayed David not once but twice according to the account in 1 Samuel (chapters 23 and 26), revealing a pattern of disloyalty that made David's life as a fugitive even more dangerous.
- The Hebrew word for 'strangers' (zarim) in verse 3 can refer to either foreigners or hostile Israelites viewed as 'outsiders' to David's cause — an ambiguity that reflects how betrayal by fellow countrymen was seen as especially grave.