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Read Psalms Chapter 55

To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, {A Psalm} of David.

Up and down arrows move from one verse to the next.

1Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.

2Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;

3Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.

4My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.

5Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.

6And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.

7Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.

8I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.

9Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

10Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.

11Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.

12For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:

13But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.

14We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.

15Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.

16As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.

17Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

18He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.

19God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.

20He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.

21The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.

22Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

23But 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.

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Explanation

Psalms 55

In short

David is in deep distress, surrounded by enemies and betrayed by someone he trusted. He expresses his fear and wish to escape, calls on God to judge the wicked, and ends by telling himself and others to trust God with their troubles because he will protect the righteous and punish the deceitful.

What the text says

Verses 1-8: David begs God to hear his prayer and not ignore him. He is mourning and distressed because enemies are attacking him with hatred and wrongdoing. His heart is in pain, fear has gripped him, and he wishes he had wings like a dove so he could fly away to the wilderness and escape the storm.

Verses 9-15: David asks God to destroy the wicked city and its violence. He describes the city as full of strife, mischief, wickedness, deceit and guile. Then he says something that cuts deeper: the one who has hurt him is not a stranger but his equal, his guide, someone he knew well. They used to pray together and go to God's house as companions. Now David calls for death to come upon this traitor.

Verses 16-21: David says he will call on God and pray, and God will save him and hear his voice. God has already delivered his soul from battles against him. This traitor speaks smoothly like butter and oil, but has war in his heart and draws swords with his words.

Verses 22-23: David gives advice: cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you and never let the righteous fall. God will bring down the wicked into destruction. Bloody and deceitful men will not live out half their days. David says he will trust in God.

Takeaways

  • Betrayal by someone close cuts deeper than open hostility, and the pain is real even in prayer.
  • The answer to overwhelming trouble is to place it on God and trust that he will act.
  • God protects those who turn to him while those who ignore him and live by deception will face judgment.

Explanation written with the help of AI. The Bible text above is not changed. Context and interpretation are flagged as such; always come back to the text itself.