Psalms 55:2-12

2 Attend to me, and hear me; I am restless in my complaint, and moan noisily,

3 Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked; For they bring down trouble upon me, And in wrath they hate me.

4 My heart is severely pained within me, And the terrors of death have fallen upon me.

5 Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, And horror has overwhelmed me.

6 So I said, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.

7 Indeed, I would wander far off, And remain in the wilderness. Selah

8 I would hasten my escape From the windy storm and tempest."

9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues, For I have seen violence and strife in the city.

10 Day and night they go around it on its walls; Iniquity and trouble are also in the midst of it.

11 Destruction is in its midst; Oppression and deceit do not depart from its streets.

12 For it is not an enemy who reproaches me; Then I could bear it. Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me; Then I could hide from him.

Psalms 55:2-12 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.