King James Version

Psalms 54:3

For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.

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Hebrew

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In the Hebrew text this line is Psalms 54:5.

כִּ֤יkiassuredכִּיconjunction — “assured”H3588(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexedand, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + til…זָרִ֨יםzarimstrangeזוּרadjective, adjective, masculine, plural, absolute — “strange”, the ordinary formH2114to turn aside (especially for lodging); hence to be aforeigner, strange, profane; specifically (active participle) to commit adultery(come from) another (man, place), fanner, go away, (e-) strange(-r, thing, woman).קָ֤מוּqamvriseקוּםverb, qal, perfect, 3rd person, common, plural — “rise”, a completed actionH6965to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)abide, accomplish, [idiom] be clearer, confirm, continue, decree, [idiom] be dim, endure, [idiom] enemy, enjoin, get up, make good, help, hold, (help to) lift up (again), make, [idiom] but newly, ordain, perform, pitch, raise (up), rear (u…עָלַ֗יalayaboveעַלpreposition, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “above”H5921above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applicationsabove, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of,…וְֽ֭עָרִיצִיםvearitsimand mightyעָרִיץconjunction, adjective, adjective, masculine, plural, absolute — “and mighty”, the ordinary formH6184fearful, i.e. powerful or tyrannicalmighty, oppressor, in great power, strong, terrible, violent.בִּקְשׁ֣וּbiqshvbeseechבָּקַשׁverb, piel, perfect, 3rd person, common, plural — “beseech”, a completed actionH1245to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive afterask, beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get, make inquisition, procure, (make) request, require, seek (for).נַפְשִׁ֑יnafshicreatureנֶפֶשׁnoun, common, both genders, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “creature”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH5315properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental)any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, [idiom] dead(-ly), desire, [idiom] (dis-) contented, [idiom] fish, ghost, [phrase] greedy, he, heart(-y), (hath, [idiom] jeopardy of) life ([idiom] in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortally,…לֹ֤אlono , -r,לֹאparticle, negative — “no , -r,”H3808not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles[idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as trul…שָׂ֨מוּsamvputשׂוּםverb, qal, perfect, 3rd person, common, plural — “put”, a completed actionH7760to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)[idiom] any wise, appoint, bring, call (a name), care, cast in, change, charge, commit, consider, convey, determine, [phrase] disguise, dispose, do, get, give, heap up, hold, impute, lay (down, up), leave, look, make (out), mark, [phrase]…אֱלֹהִ֖יםelohimGodאֱלֹהִיםnoun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “God”, the ordinary formH430gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlativeangels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.לְנֶגְדָּ֣םlenegdamto againstנֶגֶדpreposition, preposition, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, plural — “to against”H5048a front, i.e. part opposite; specifically a counterpart, or mate; usually (adverbial, especially with preposition) over against or beforeabout, (over) against, [idiom] aloof, [idiom] far (off), [idiom] from, over, presence, [idiom] other side, sight, [idiom] to view.סֶֽלָהselahSelahסֶלָהparticle, interjection — “Selah”H5542suspension (of music), i.e. pauseSelah.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

(54-5) For strangers are risen up against me, and violent men have sought after my soul; they have not set God before them. Selah

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

For strangers are risen up against me, And violent men have sought after my soul: They have not set God before them. [Selah

Young’s Literal Translation

For strangers have risen up against me And terrible ones have sought 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.

Darby Translation

For strangers are risen up against me, and the violent seek after my life: they have not set God before them. Selah.

Douay-Rheims

Be attentive to me and hear me. I am grieved in my exercise; and am troubled,

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

(54-5) For strangers are risen up against me, and violent men have sought after my soul; they have not set God before them. Selah

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

For strangers have risen up against me, and mighty men have sought my life: they have not set God before them. Pause.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ὅτι ἀλλότριοι ἐπανέστησαν ἐπʼ ἐμὲ, καὶ κραταιοὶ ἐζήτησαν τὴν ψυχήν μου, οὐ προέθεντο τὸν Θεὸν ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν· διάψαλμα.