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Psalm 55:1-8

Listen to Psalm 55:1-8

Betrayal by a Friend

For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A Davidic Maskil.

1 God, listen to my prayer and do not ignore[a] my plea for help.
2 Pay attention to me and answer me.[b] I am restless and in turmoil with my complaint,
3 because of the enemy's voice, because of the pressure[c] of the wicked. For they bring down disaster on me[d] and harass me in anger.
4 My heart shudders within me; terrors of death sweep over me.
5 Fear and trembling grip me; horror has overwhelmed me.[e]
6 I said, "If only I had[f] wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest.
7 How far away I would flee; I would stay in the wilderness. Selah
8 I would hurry to my shelter from the raging wind and the storm."

Psalm 55:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil [A Psalm] of David. The occasion of this psalm was either the persecution of Saul, or the conspiracy of Absalom. Some think it was written when David understood that the inhabitants of Keilah would deliver him into the hands of Saul, 1 Samuel 23:12; and others when the Ziphites attempted a second time to do the same, 1 Samuel 26:1; but since a single person is spoken of that magnified himself against him, Psalm 55:12; and Ahithophel seems to be designed; it may be thought rather to be written on account of Absalom's rebellion, and Ahithophel's counsel against him; who is considered by many Christian interpreters as a type of Judas, the betrayer of our Lord; and, indeed, there are many things in this psalm, if not the whole, which may be truly applied to Christ, as will be seen in the following exposition of it.
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Footnotes 6

  • [a] Lit hide Yourself from
  • [b] Ps 4:1; 5:1-2; 54:2
  • [c] Or threat, or oppression
  • [d] LXX, Syr, Sym; MT reads they cause me to totter
  • [e] Ps 18:4-5; 116:3
  • [f] Lit "Who will give to me . . . dove? (as a question)
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

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