Psalms 55:1-10

1 Open your ears, God, to my prayer; don't pretend you don't hear me knocking.

2 Come close and whisper your answer. I really need you.

3 at the mean voice, quail before the evil eye, As they pile on the guilt, stockpile angry slander.

4 My insides are turned inside out; specters of death have me down.

5 I shake with fear, I shudder from head to foot.

6 "Who will give me wings," I ask - "wings like a dove?" Get me out of here on dove wings;

7 I want some peace and quiet. I want a walk in the country,

8 I want a cabin in the woods. I'm desperate for a change from rage and stormy weather.

9 Come down hard, Lord - slit their tongues. I'm appalled how they've split the city Into rival gangs prowling the alleys

10 Day and night spoiling for a fight, trash piled in the streets,

Psalms 55:1-10 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.