BibleHearthPsalm 55 (NASB2020)
Psalm 55
Prayer for the Destruction of the Treacherous.
For the music director; on stringed instruments. A 55:0 Possibly Contemplative; or Didactic; or Skillful PsalmMaskil of David.
1Listen to my prayer, God;
And do not hide Yourself from my pleading.
2Give Your attention to me and answer me;
I am restless in my complaint and 55:2 Another reading is I must moanseverely distracted,
3Because of the voice of the enemy,
Because of the pressure of the wicked;
For they bring down 55:3 Or wickednesstrouble upon me
And in anger they hold a grudge against me.
4¶My heart is in anguish within me,
And the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
5Fear and trembling come upon me,
And 55:5 Lit shudderinghorror has 55:5 Lit coveredoverwhelmed me.
6I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and 55:6 Lit settle downbe at rest.
7“Behold, I would flee far away,
I would spend my nights in the wilderness. Selah
8“I would hurry to my place of refuge
From the stormy wind and heavy gale.”
9¶Confuse them, Lord, divide their tongues,
For I have seen violence and strife in the city.
10Day and night they go around her upon her walls,
And evil and harm are in her midst.
11Destruction is in her midst;
Oppression and deceit do not depart from her 55:11 Or plazastreets.
12¶For it is not an enemy who taunts me,
Then I could endure it;
Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me,
Then I could hide myself from him.
13But it is you, a man 55:13 Lit according to my valuationmy equal,
My companion and my confidant;
14We who had sweet 55:14 Lit counsel; or intimacyfellowship together,
Walked in the house of God among the commotion.
15 May 55:15 Another reading is devastation be upon themdeath come deceitfully upon them;
May they go down alive to 55:15 I.e., the netherworldSheol,
For evil is in their dwelling, in their midst.
16¶As for me, I shall call upon God,
And the Lord will save me.
17Evening and morning and at noon, I will complain and moan,
And He will hear my voice.
18He will redeem my soul in peace 55:18 Or so that none may approach mefrom the battle which is against me,
For they are many who are aggressive toward me.
19God will hear and humiliate them—
Even the One who 55:19 Or remains fromsits enthroned from ancient times— Selah
With whom there 55:19 Lit are no changesis no change,
And who do not fear God.
20He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him;
He has 55:20 Lit profanedviolated his covenant.
21His 55:21 Lit mouthspeech was smoother than butter,
But his heart was war;
His words were softer than oil,
Yet they were drawn swords.
22¶Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you;
He will never allow the righteous to 55:22 Or totterbe shaken.
23But You, God, will bring them down to the pit of destruction;
Men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days.
But I will trust in You.
Understand Psalm 55
A verse-by-verse study of Psalm 55: what the chapter is doing, and what three commentaries say about it. Written to be readable if this is new to you.
Read the Psalm 55 commentary