Bible Strands
Psalms 64:1
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Hear, O God, my voice of complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David addresses God as the opening inscription marks this as a composed psalm for worship leadership. He speaks from a moment of acute vulnerability, anticipating the concealed hostility described in the immediate context.
The words — The opening imperative שְׁמַע (she.ma') commands God to "hear," followed by תִּצּוֹר (ti.Tzor), which literally means "you will preserve" or "keep close." These verbs establish the structural frame of the psalmist's request.
The thread — The direct plea for God to hear a complaint matches the wording in Psalms 143:1, while the request for deliverance from fear runs parallel to Psalms 34:4. The posture of crying out from distress aligns with the cry in Psalms 130:1.
Why it lands — The text demands a direct appeal to God when facing concealed hostility, prioritizing divine intervention over human defense. It requires the reader to acknowledge that preservation from dread depends entirely on God's attentive response.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.
Cross-references
- Psalms 34:4 I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.
- Psalms 143:1 A Psalm of David. O LORD, hear my prayer. In Your faithfulness, give ear to my plea; in Your righteousness, answer me.
- Psalms 130:1 A song of ascents. Out of the depths I cry to You, O LORD!
- Psalms 140:1 For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men. Protect me from men of violence,
- Psalms 141:1 A Psalm of David. I call upon You, O LORD; come quickly to me. Hear my voice when I call to You.
- Lamentations 3:55 I called on Your name, O LORD, out of the depths of the Pit.
- Psalms 31:13 For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side. They conspire against me and plot to take my life.
- Psalms 55:1 For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Maskil of David. Listen to my prayer, O God, and do not ignore my plea.
- Acts 27:24 and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And look, God has granted you the lives of all who sail with you.’
- Psalms 17:8 Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings