Psalms 55:13-23

13 But it was you, a man of my own kind, my companion, whom I knew well.

14 We used to share our hearts with each other; in the house of God we walked with the crowd.

15 May he put death on them; let them go down alive to Sh'ol; for evil is in their homes and also in their hearts.

16 But I will call on God, and ADONAI will save me.

17 Evening, morning and noon I complain and moan; but he hears my voice.

18 He redeems me and gives me peace, so that no one can come near me. For there were many who fought me.

19 God will hear and will humble them, yes, he who has sat on his throne from the start. (Selah) For they never change, and they don't fear God.

20 [My companion] attacked those who were at peace with him; he broke his solemn word.

21 What he said sounded smoother than butter, but his heart was at war. His words seemed more soothing than oil, but in fact they were sharp swords.

22 Unload your burden on ADONAI, and he will sustain you. He will never permit the righteous to be moved.

23 But you will bring them down, God, into the deepest pit. Those men, so bloodthirsty and treacherous, will not live out half their days. But for my part, [ADONAI,] I put my trust in you.

Psalms 55:13-23 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.