Psalms 55:23

23 But you, God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of decay; the bloodthirsty and deceitful will not live out half their days. But as for me, I trust in you.

Psalms 55:23 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
23 But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.
English Standard Version (ESV)
23 But you, O God, will cast them down into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in you.
New Living Translation (NLT)
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.
The Message Bible (MSG)
23 But you, God, will throw the others into a muddy bog, Cut the lifespan of assassins and traitors in half. And I trust in you.
American Standard Version (ASV)
23 But thou, O God, wilt bring them down into the pit of destruction: Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; But I will trust in thee.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
23 But you, O God, will throw [wicked people] into the deepest pit. Bloodthirsty and deceitful people will not live out half their days. But I will trust you.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
23 You, God, will bring them down to the pit of destruction; men of bloodshed and treachery will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
23 God, you will bring sinners down to the grave. Murderers and liars won't live out even half of their lives. But I trust in you.

Psalms 55:23 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 55:23

But thou, O God, shall bring them down
Ahithophel and his accomplices in the conspiracy against David, Judas and the wicked Jews concerned in Christ's death; and did not believe in him;

into the pit of destruction,
or "corruption" F9; either the grave, where bodies being put corrupt and putrefy; or hell, where the wicked are punished with everlasting destruction; see ( Psalms 55:15 ) ;

bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days;
such as Ahithophel and Absalom, Judas, and the murderers of our Lord: or, "do not halve their days" F11; do not come up to the half of the ordinary term of man's life, which is threescore years and ten. The Jews say {l}, that all the years of Doeg were but thirty four, and of Ahithophel thirty three; and probably Judas might be about the same age. Or the sense is, that, generally speaking, such sort of men die in the prime of their days, and do not live half the time that, according to the course of nature, they might live; and which they promise themselves they should, and their friends hoped and expected they would:

but I will trust in thee;
the Lord, that he would hear and save him, support him under his burden, supply him with his grace, and every thing needful, and not suffer him to be moved; and that he should live to fill up the measure of his days, do the will and work of God, and then be received to glory.


FOOTNOTES:

F9 (txv) "corruptionis", Vatablus, Musculus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; so Ainsworth; approved by Gussetius, p. 850.
F11 (wuxy) "dividiabunt", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus
F12 T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 69. 2. & 106. 2. & Gloss. in Pirke Abot, c. 5. s. 19.

Psalms 55:23 In-Context

21 His talk is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords.
22 Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.
23 But you, God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of decay; the bloodthirsty and deceitful will not live out half their days. But as for me, I trust in you.

Cross References 4

  • 1. Psalms 9:15; S Psalms 30:3; Psalms 73:18; Psalms 94:13; Isaiah 14:15; Ezekiel 28:8; S Luke 8:31
  • 2. Psalms 5:6
  • 3. S Job 15:32; Proverbs 10:27
  • 4. Psalms 11:1; Psalms 25:2; Psalms 56:3
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