Psalms 55:11-21

11 Destruction is everywhere in the city; trouble and lying never leave its streets.

12 It was not an enemy insulting me. I could stand that. It was not someone who hated me. I could hide from him.

13 But it is you, a person like me, my companion and good friend.

14 We had a good friendship and walked together to God's Temple.

15 Let death take away my enemies. Let them die while they are still young because evil lives with them.

16 But I will call to God for help, and the Lord will save me.

17 Morning, noon, and night I am troubled and upset, but he will listen to me.

18 Many are against me, but he keeps me safe in battle.

19 God who lives forever will hear me and punish them.Selah But they will not change; they do not fear God.

20 The one who was my friend attacks his friends and breaks his promises.

21 His words are slippery like butter, but war is in his heart. His words are smoother than oil, but they cut like knives.

Psalms 55:11-21 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.