Psalms 54:3
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.
American King James Version (AKJV)
For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.
American Standard Version (ASV)
For strangers are risen up against me, And violent men have sought after my soul: They have not set God before them. Selah
Basic English Translation (BBE)
For men who are going after me have come out against me, violent men are purposing to take my soul; they have not put God before their eyes. (Selah.)
Webster's Revision
For strangers have risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.
World English Bible
For strangers have risen up against me. Violent men have sought after my soul. They haven't set God before them. Selah.
English Revised Version (ERV)
For strangers are risen up against me, and violent men have sought after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah
Clarke's Psalms 54:3 Bible Commentary
Strangers are risen up against me - The Ziphites.
And oppressors - Saul, his courtiers, and his army.
They have not set God before them - It is on no religious account, nor is it to accomplish any end, on which they can ask the blessing of God.
Selah - This is true.
Barnes's Psalms 54:3 Bible Commentary
For strangers are risen up against me - That is, foreigners; those of another nation or land. Saul and his friends who sought the life of David were his own countrymen; these persons who sought go betray him were another people. They attempted to gain the favor of Saul, or to secure a reward from him, by betraying to him an innocent man whom he was persecuting.
And oppressors seek after my soul - Seek after my life. The word here rendered "oppressors" means people of violence; the proud; the haughty; persecutors; tyrants. The word properly denotes those who exert their power in an arbitrary manner, or not under the sanction of law.
They have not set God before them - They do not act as in the presence of God. They do not regard his authority. See the notes at Psalm 36:1. The word "Selah" here merely marks a musical pause. It indicates nothing in regard to the sense.
Wesley's Psalms 54:3 Bible Commentary
54:3 Strangers - The Zephites, whom, though Israelites, he calls strangers in regard of their barbarous and perfidious carriage.