Psalms 55:13-23

13 Instead, it is you—my equal, my companion and close friend.

14 What good fellowship we once enjoyed as we walked together to the house of God.

15 Let death stalk my enemies; let the grave swallow them alive, for evil makes its home within them.

16 But I will call on God, and the LORD will rescue me.

17 Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my distress, and the LORD hears my voice.

18 He ransoms me and keeps me safe from the battle waged against me, though many still oppose me.

19 God, who has ruled forever, will hear me and humble them. Interlude For my enemies refuse to change their ways; they do not fear God.

20 As for my companion, he betrayed his friends; he broke his promises.

21 His words are as smooth as butter, but in his heart is war. His words are as soothing as lotion, but underneath are daggers!

22 Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

23 But you, O God, will send the wicked down to the pit of destruction. Murderers and liars will die young, but I am trusting you to save me.

Psalms 55:13-23 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew let Sheol.