Psalms 55

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil of David.

1 [a][b]Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea;
2 hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught
3 because of what my enemy is saying, because of the threats of the wicked; for they bring down suffering on me and assail me in their anger.
4 My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen on me.
5 Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me.
6 I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.
7 I would flee far away and stay in the desert;[c]
8 I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.”
9 Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words, for I see violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they prowl about on its walls; malice and abuse are within it.
11 Destructive forces are at work in the city; threats and lies never leave its streets.
12 If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were rising against me, I could hide.
13 But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend,
14 with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship at the house of God, as we walked about among the worshipers.
15 Let death take my enemies by surprise; let them go down alive to the realm of the dead, for evil finds lodging among them.
16 As for me, I call to God, and the LORD saves me.
17 Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice.
18 He rescues me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me.
19 God, who is enthroned from of old, who does not change— he will hear them and humble them, because they have no fear of God.
20 My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.
21 His talk is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords.
22 Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.
23 But you, God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of decay; the bloodthirsty and deceitful will not live out half their days. But as for me, I trust in you.

Images for Psalms 55

Cross References 41

  • 1. Psalms 27:9; Psalms 61:1; Lamentations 3:56
  • 2. Psalms 4:1; Psalms 66:19
  • 3. 1 Samuel 1:15-16; Psalms 77:3; Psalms 86:6-7; Psalms 142:2; Isaiah 38:14
  • 4. S 2 Samuel 16:6-8; Psalms 17:9; Psalms 143:3
  • 5. S Psalms 44:16
  • 6. Psalms 71:11
  • 7. S Psalms 6:3
  • 8. S Job 18:11; Psalms 116:3
  • 9. S Job 4:14; S 2 Corinthians 7:15; Job 21:6; Psalms 119:120
  • 10. Deuteronomy 28:67; Isaiah 21:4; Jeremiah 46:5; Jeremiah 49:5; Ezekiel 7:18
  • 11. 1 Samuel 23:14
  • 12. Psalms 31:20
  • 13. Psalms 77:18; Isaiah 4:6; Isaiah 25:4; Isaiah 28:2; Isaiah 29:6; Isaiah 32:2
  • 14. Genesis 11:9; Acts 2:4
  • 15. Psalms 11:5; Isaiah 59:6; Jeremiah 6:7; Ezekiel 7:11; Habakkuk 1:3
  • 16. Genesis 4:17
  • 17. 1 Peter 5:8
  • 18. Psalms 5:9
  • 19. Psalms 10:7
  • 20. S 2 Samuel 15:12; Psalms 41:9
  • 21. Acts 1:16-17
  • 22. Psalms 42:4
  • 23. Psalms 64:7; Proverbs 6:15; Isaiah 29:5; Isaiah 47:9,11; 1 Thessalonians 5:3
  • 24. Numbers 16:30,33; S Psalms 49:14
  • 25. Psalms 141:2; Acts 3:1; Acts 10:3,30
  • 26. Psalms 5:3; Psalms 88:13; Psalms 92:2
  • 27. Acts 10:9
  • 28. S Exodus 15:18; Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalms 29:10
  • 29. Psalms 78:59
  • 30. Psalms 36:1; Psalms 64:4
  • 31. Psalms 7:4
  • 32. S Psalms 41:9; Psalms 89:34
  • 33. Psalms 12:2
  • 34. Proverbs 5:3; Proverbs 6:24
  • 35. Psalms 28:3; Psalms 57:4; Psalms 59:7; Psalms 64:3; Proverbs 12:18; Revelation 1:16
  • 36. S Psalms 18:35; Psalms 37:5; Matthew 6:25-34; 1 Peter 5:7
  • 37. Psalms 15:5; Psalms 21:7; Psalms 37:24; Psalms 112:6
  • 38. Psalms 9:15; S Psalms 30:3; Psalms 73:18; Psalms 94:13; Isaiah 14:15; Ezekiel 28:8; S Luke 8:31
  • 39. Psalms 5:6
  • 40. S Job 15:32; Proverbs 10:27
  • 41. Psalms 11:1; Psalms 25:2; Psalms 56:3

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. In Hebrew texts 55:1-23 is numbered 55:2-24.
  • [b]. Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  • [c]. The Hebrew has "Selah" (a word of uncertain meaning) here and in the middle of verse 19.

Psalms 55 Commentaries

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