Psalms 64:1 · Clearspring

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Other translations

WEBBE

Hear my voice, God, in my complaint. Preserve my life from fear of the enemy.

BSB

Hear, O God, my voice of complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy.

KJV

Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.

ASV

Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint: Preserve my life from fear of the enemy.

BBE

<To the chief music-maker. A Psalm. Of David.> O God, let the voice of my grief come to your ear: keep my life from the fear of those who are against me.

Original Hebrew

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שְׁמַע־ she·ma'- hear H8085 אֱלֹהִים 'e·lo·him O God H430 קוֹלִי ko·li voice my H6963 בְשִׂיחִי ve·si·chi in complaint my H7879 מִפַּחַד mi·pa·chad from dread of H6343 אוֹיֵב 'o·yev an enemy H341 תִּצֹּר ti·tzor you will preserve H5341 חַיָּי chai·yai life my H2416

The early church

Say we, therefore, ourselves also: "Hearken, O God, to my prayer, while I am troubled; from fear of the enemy deliver my soul" [Psalm 64:1]. Enemies have raged against the Martyrs: for what was that voice of Christ's Body praying? For this it was praying, to be delivered from enemies, and that enemies might not have power to slay them. Were they not therefore hearkened to, because they were slain; and has God forsaken His servants of a contrite heart, and despised men hoping in Him? Far be it. For "who has called upon God, and has been forsaken; who has hoped in Him, and has been deserted by Him?" [Sirach 2:10] They were hearkened to therefore, and they were slain; and yet from enemies they were delivered. Others being afraid gave consent, and lived, and yet the same by enemies were swallowed up. The slain were delivered, the living were swallowed up. Thence is also that voice of thanksgiving, "Perchance alive they would have swallowed us up.". ..Therefore for this prays the voice of the Martyrs, "From fear of the enemy deliver my soul:" not so that the enemy may not slay me, but that I may not fear an enemy slaying. For that to be fulfilled in the Psalm the servant prays, which but now in the Gospel the Lord was commanding. What but now was the Lord commanding? "Fear not them that kill the body, but the soul are not able to kill; but Him rather fear ye, that has power to kill both body and soul in the hell of fire." [Matthew 10:28] And He repeated, "Yea, I say unto you, fear Him." [Luke 12:5] Who are they that kill the body? Enemies. What was the Lord commanding? That they should not be feared. Be prayer offered, therefore, that He may grant what He has commanded. "From fear of the enemy deliver my soul." Deliver me from fear of the enemy, and make me submit to the fear of You. I would not fear him that kills the body, but I would fear Him that has power to kill both body and soul in the hell of fire. For not from fear would I be free: but from fear of the enemy being free, under fear of the Lord a servant.

Augustine of Hippo · d. 430Expositions on the Psalms

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 1–6

The psalmist earnestly begs of God to preserve him from disquieting fear. The tongue is a little member, but it boasts great things. The upright man is the mark at which the wicked aim, they cannot speak peaceably either of him or to him. There is no guard against a false tongue. It is bad to do wrong, but worse to encourage ourselves and one another in it. It is a sign that the heart is hardened to the greatest degree, when it is thus fully set to do evil. A practical disbelief of God's knowledge of all things, is at the bottom of every wickedness. The benefit of a good cause and a good conscience, appears most when nothing can help a man against his enemies, save God alone, who is always a present help.

Read Matthew Henry on Psalm 64 →

Spurgeon · Verse 1

Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer. It often helps devotion if we are able to use the voice and speak audibly; but even mental prayer has a voice with God which he will hear. We do not read that Moses had spoken with his lips at the Red Sea, and yet the Lord said to him, "Why criest thou unto me?" Prayers which are unheard on earth may be among the best heard in heaven. It is our duty to note how constantly David turns to prayer; it is his battle axe and weapon of war; he uses it under every pressure, whether of inward sin or outward wrath, foreign invasion or domestic rebellion. We shall act wisely if we make prayer to God our first and best trusted resource in every hour of need. Preserve my life from fear of the enemy. From harm and dread of harm protect me; or it may be read as an expression of his assurance that it would be so; "from fear of the foe thou wilt preserve me." With all our sacrifices of prayer we should offer the salt of faith.

Read Spurgeon on Psalm 64 →

Cross-references

13

Topics

Afflictions And Adversities