Psalms 55:1

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;

Psalms 55:1 in Other Translations

KJV
1 Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.
ESV
1 Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy!
NLT
1 Listen to my prayer, O God. Do not ignore my cry for help!
MSG
1 Open your ears, God, to my prayer; don't pretend you don't hear me knocking.
CSB
1 God, listen to my prayer and do not ignore my plea for help.

Psalms 55:1 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 55:1

Give ear to my prayer, O God
Which was for that which is just and right, and equitable to be given, as the word F14 used signifies; being promised in the covenant of grace, ratified and confirmed by the blood of Christ, Not only David was a man much given to prayer, as well as was the sweet psalmist of Israel; but the Messiah, as man, was much and often engaged in this work, in the days of his flesh, ( Luke 6:12 ) ( Hebrews 5:7 ) ;

and hide not thyself from my supplication;
made for mercies and blessings, which spring from the free grace and goodness of God, which is the sense of the word F15 here used; and such are all mercies, whether temporal or spiritual; for none are merited by men: and from his supplication for such things the psalmist desires, that as he would not be as one deaf to him, so that he would not hide his eyes, or refuse to look upon him, and deny his, requests; see ( Isaiah 1:15 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F14 (ytlpt) "orationem meam", i.e. "secundum judicium"; so Arana.
F15 (ytnxt) "my supplication for grace", Ainsworth.

Psalms 55:1 In-Context

1 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.

Cross References 1

  • 1. Psalms 27:9; Psalms 61:1; Lamentations 3:56

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. In Hebrew texts 55:1-23 is numbered 55:2-24.
  • [b]. Title: Probably a literary or musical term
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