Psalms55
New American Standard
1 Listen to my prayer, God; And do not hide Yourself from my pleading.
2 Give Your attention to me and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and severely distracted,
3 Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the pressure of the wicked; For they bring down trouble 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.
5 Fear and trembling come upon me, And horror has overwhelmed me.
6 I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be 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.
10 Day and night they go around her upon her walls, And evil and harm are in her midst.
11 Destruction is in her midst; Oppression and deceit do not depart from her streets.
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.
13 But it is you, a man my equal, My companion and my confidant;
14 We who had sweet fellowship together, Walked in the house of God among the commotion.
15 May death come deceitfully upon them; May they go down alive to Sheol, For evil is in their dwelling, in their midst.
16 As for me, I shall call upon God, And the Lord will save me.
17 Evening and morning and at noon, I will complain and moan, And He will hear my voice.
18 He will redeem my soul in peace from the battle which is against me, For they are many who are aggressive toward me.
19 God will hear and humiliate them— Even the one who sits enthroned from ancient times— Selah With whom there is no change, And who do not fear God.
20 He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him; He has violated his covenant.
21 His speech 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 be shaken.
23 But 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.
Study
Psalms 55Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 55. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Prayer to God to manifest his favour. (1–8). The great wickedness and treachery of his enemies. (9–15). He is sure that God would in due time appear for him. (16–23).
vv1-8
In these verses we have, 1. David praying. Prayer is a salve for every sore, and a relief to the spirit under every burden. 2. David weeping. Griefs are thus, in some measure, lessened, while those increase that have no vent given them. David in great alarm. We may well suppose him to be so, upon the breaking out of Absalom's conspiracy, and the falling away of the people. Horror overwhelmed him. Probably the remembrance of his sin in the matter of Uriah added much to the terror. When under a guilty conscience we must mourn in our complaint, and even strong believers have for a time been filled with horror. But none ever was so overwhelmed as the holy Jesus, when it pleased the Lord to put him to grief, and to make his soul an offering for our sins. In his agony he prayed more earnestly, and was heard and delivered; trusting in him, and following him, we shall be supported under, and carried through all trials. See how David was weary of the treachery and ingratitude of men, and the cares and disappointments of his high station: he longed to hide himself in some desert from the fury and fickleness of his people. He aimed not at victory, but rest; a barren wilderness, so that he might be quiet. The wisest and best of men most earnestly covet peace and quietness, and the more when vexed and wearied with noise and clamour. This makes death desirable to a child of God, that it is a final escape from all the storms and tempests of this world, to perfect and everlasting rest.
vv9-15
No wickedness so distresses the believer, as that which he witnesses in those who profess to be of the church of God. Let us not be surprised at the corruptions and disorders of the church on earth, but long to see the New Jerusalem. He complains of one that had been very industrious against him. God often destroys the enemies of the church by dividing them. And an interest divided against itself cannot long stand. The true Christian must expect trials from professed friends, from those with whom he has been united; this will be very painful; but by looking unto Jesus we shall be enabled to bear it. Christ was betrayed by a companion, a disciple, an apostle, who resembled Ahithophel in his crimes and doom. Both were speedily overtaken by Divine vengeance. And this prayer is a prophecy of the utter, the everlasting ruin, of all who oppose and rebel against the Messiah.
vv16-23
In every trial let us call upon the Lord, and he will save us. He shall hear us, and not blame us for coming too often; the oftener the more welcome. David had thought all were against him; but now he sees there were many with him, more than he supposed; and the glory of this he gives to God, for it is he that raises us up friends, and makes them faithful to us. There are more true Christians, and believers have more real friends, than in their gloomy hours they suppose. His enemies should be reckoned with, and brought down; they could not ease themselves of their fears, as David could, by faith in God. Mortal men, though ever so high and strong, will easily be crushed by an eternal God. Those who are not reclaimed by the rod of affliction, will certainly be brought down to the pit of destruction. The burden of afflictions is very heavy, especially when attended with the temptations of Satan; there is also the burden of sin and corruption. The only relief under it is, to look to Christ, who bore it. Whatever it is that thou desirest God should give thee, leave it to him to give it in his own way and time. Care is a burden, it makes the heart stoop. We must commit our ways and works to the Lord; let him do as seemeth him good, and let us be satisfied. To cast our burden upon God, is to rest upon his providence and promise. And if we do so, he will carry us in the arms of his power, as a nurse carries a child; and will strengthen our spirits by his Spirit, so that they shall sustain the trial. He will never suffer the righteous to be moved; to be so shaken by any troubles, as to quit their duty to God, or their comfort in him. He will not suffer them to be utterly cast down. He, who bore the burden of our sorrows, desires us to leave to him to bear the burden of our cares, that, as he knows what is best for us, he may provide it accordingly. Why do not we trust Christ to govern the world which he redeemed?
Key Words
נָצַח: properly, to glitter from afar, i.e. to be eminent (as a superintendent, especially of the Temple services and its music); to be permanent
נְגִינָה: properly, instrumental music; by implication, a stringed instrument; by extension, a poem set to music; specifically, an epigram
מַשְׂכִּיל: instructive, i.e. a didactic poem
דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse
אָזַן: to broaden out the ear (with the hand), i.e. (by implication) to listen
תְּפִלָּה: intercession, supplication; by implication, a hymn
אֱלֹהִים: gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
עָלַם: to veil from sight, i.e. conceal (literally or figuratively)
אַל: not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
תְּחִנָּה: graciousness; causatively, entreaty
Cross References
Psalms 55Ahithophel's treason against David provides the immediate historical backdrop for the betrayal by an equal.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
David's betrayal by his close friend typifies Christ's betrayal by Judas Iscariot.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The plea for enemies to go 'quick into hell' echoes the judgment of Korah's rebellion.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The request to 'divide their tongues' directly references God's confounding of languages at Babel.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
David prays to defeat Ahithophel's counsel, matching the plea to confound and divide counsels.
Supported by Matthew Poole, Matthew Henry
New Testament application of casting all your care and burdens upon the Lord.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Jeremiah similarly longs for a lodging place in the wilderness to escape treachery.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The literal division of opinions between Ahithophel and Hushai that saved David.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallels the pain of betrayal by a familiar friend who ate bread with the Psalmist.
Supported by JFB
The sudden destruction of the traitor Judas, fulfilling the doom of David's betrayer.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Daniel's practice of praying three times a day reflects David's evening, morning, and noon pattern.
David's deep soul-sorrow and the terrors of death foreshadow Christ's agony in Gethsemane.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Describes Ahithophel's reputation as David's counselor whose advice was like an oracle.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Jesus invites those who are heavily laden to come to Him for rest.
Supported by Matthew Henry
David flees Jerusalem in haste due to the sudden threat of Absalom's conspiracy.