Psalms 55:16-23

16 As for me, I will call on God. Yahweh will save me.

17 Evening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress. He will hear my voice.

18 He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, Although there are many who oppose me.

19 God, who is enthroned forever, Will hear, and answer them. Selah. They never change, Who don't fear God.

20 He raises his hands against his friends. He has violated his covenant.

21 His mouth was smooth as butter, But his heart was war. His words were softer than oil, Yet they were drawn swords.

22 Cast your burden on Yahweh, and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved.

23 But you, God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction. Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days, But I will trust in you.

Psalms 55:16-23 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.