Psalms 55:14-23

14 We who held sweet intercourse together. To the house of God we walked amid the throng.

15 Let death seize upon them, let them go down alive into Sheol. For wickedness is in their dwellings, in their midst.

16 As for me, unto God will I call; and Jehovah will save me.

17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray and moan aloud; and he will hear my voice.

18 He hath redeemed my soul in peace from the battle against me: for there were many about me.

19 God will hear, and afflict them: he that is seated of old, (Selah) ... because there is no change in them, and they fear not God.

20 He hath put forth his hands against such as are at peace with him; he hath profaned his covenant.

21 Smooth were the milky [words] of his mouth, but his heart was war; his words were softer than oil, yet are they drawn swords.

22 Cast thy burden upon Jehovah, and *he* will sustain thee: he will never suffer the righteous to be moved.

23 And thou, O God, wilt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days. But as for me, I will confide in thee.

Psalms 55:14-23 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]. Some read 'Desolation be upon them!'
• [b]. Or 'that abideth.'
• [c]. Or 'because they with whom are no changes.'
• [d]. Or '[The words of] his mouth were smooth as butter.'
• [e]. Or 'the portion assigned to thee.'