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Read the Bible

New King James Version

Psalms 55:7

Indeed, I would wander far off, And remain in the wilderness.Selah

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Afflictions and Adversities;   Thompson Chain Reference - Association-Separation;   Solitude;   Wildernesses;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Prayer;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Dove;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - David;   Jonath Elem Rechokim, upon;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Greek Versions of Ot;   Psalms;   Sin;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - God;   Psalms the book of;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Psalms, Book of;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
How far away I would flee;I would stay in the wilderness.Selah
Hebrew Names Version
Behold, then I would wander far off. I would lodge in the wilderness." Selah.
King James Version
Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.
English Standard Version
yes, I would wander far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah
New Century Version
I would wander far away and stay in the desert. Selah
New English Translation
Look, I will escape to a distant place; I will stay in the wilderness. (Selah)
Amplified Bible
"I would wander far away, I would lodge in the [peace of the] wilderness. Selah.
New American Standard Bible
"Behold, I would flee far away, I would spend my nights in the wilderness. Selah
World English Bible
Behold, then I would wander far off. I would lodge in the wilderness." Selah.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Beholde, I woulde take my flight farre off, and lodge in the wildernes. Selah.
Legacy Standard Bible
Behold, I would wander far away,I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah.
Berean Standard Bible
How far away I would flee; in the wilderness I would remain. Selah
Contemporary English Version
I would go and live in some distant desert.
Complete Jewish Bible
I said, "I wish I had wings like a dove! Then I could fly away and be at rest.
Darby Translation
Behold, I would flee afar off, I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah;
Easy-to-Read Version
I would go far into the desert and stay there. Selah
George Lamsa Translation
Lo, then I would fly far off and dwell in the wilderness.
Good News Translation
I would fly far away and make my home in the desert.
Lexham English Bible
Look, I would flee far away. I would dwell in the wilderness. Selah
Literal Translation
I would rove far away, fleeing; I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Sela. I wolde make haist to escape, from the stormy wynde and tempest.
American Standard Version
Lo, then would I wander far off, I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah
Bible in Basic English
I would go wandering far away, living in the waste land. (Selah.)
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And I said: 'Oh that I had wings like a dove! then would I fly away, and be at rest.
King James Version (1611)
Loe, then would I wander farre off, and remaine in the wildernesse. Selah.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Lo, then woulde I fleeing get me away farre of: and remayne in the wyldernesse. Selah.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Lo! I have fled afar off, and lodged in the wilderness. Pause.
English Revised Version
Lo, then would I wander far off, I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Lo! Y yede fer awei, and fledde; and Y dwellide in wildirnesse.
Update Bible Version
Look, then I would wander far off, I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah.
Webster's Bible Translation
Lo, [then] I would wander far off, [and] remain in the wilderness. Selah.
New Living Translation
I would fly far away to the quiet of the wilderness. Interlude
New Life Bible
Yes, I would go far away. I would live in the desert.
New Revised Standard
truly, I would flee far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Lo! I would take a distant flight, I would tarry in the wilderness. Selah.
Douay-Rheims Bible
(54-8) Lo, I have gone far off flying away; and I abode in the wilderness.
Revised Standard Version
yea, I would wander afar, I would lodge in the wilderness, [Selah]
Young's Literal Translation
Lo, I move far off, I lodge in a wilderness. Selah.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Behold, I would wander far away, I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah.

Contextual Overview

1 To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. [fn] A Contemplation [fn] of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God,And do not hide Yourself from my supplication. 2 Attend to me, and hear me; I am restless in my complaint, and moan noisily, 3 Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked; For they bring down trouble upon me, And in wrath they hate me. 4 My heart is severely pained within me, And the terrors of death have fallen upon me. 5 Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, And horror has overwhelmed me. 6 So I said, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. 7 Indeed, I would wander far off, And remain in the wilderness.Selah 8 I would hasten my escape From the windy storm and tempest."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

1 Samuel 27:1, 2 Samuel 15:14, 2 Samuel 17:21, 2 Samuel 17:22, Proverbs 6:4, Proverbs 6:5, Jeremiah 9:2, Jeremiah 37:12

Reciprocal: Psalms 11:1 - Flee Proverbs 21:19 - better Jeremiah 48:28 - like

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Lo, [then] would I wander far off, [and] remain in the wilderness,.... So David did when he fled from Absalom,

2 Samuel 15:23; so gracious souls desire to be; not in the wilderness of the people; but to be solitary as in a wilderness, clear of the company of wicked men, as Jeremiah wished for, Jeremiah 9:2; and that they might be more at leisure for and given up unto spiritual devotion, and be secure from their enemies: and as this may be applied to Christ, it shows the wickedness, cruelty, and barbarity of the men of that generation among whom he lived; that he chose rather to be in the wilderness, among wild beasts, than to dwell among them, Matthew 17:17; some apply this to the state of the primitive church under Jewish persecution, when it fled from Judea, and settled in the wilderness of the Gentiles; the preachers of the word being scattered abroad by the windy storm and tempest of persecution, and the Gospel taken from the Jews, and carried to a nation bringing forth the fruit of it, where it has remained ever since. With this may be compared the state of the church under Rome Pagan, in Revelation 12:6.

Selah; on this word, Revelation 12:6- :.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Lo, then would I wander far off - literally, “Lo, I would make the distance far by wandering;” I would separate myself far from these troubles.

And remain in the wilderness - literally, I would sojourn; or, I would pass the night; or, I would put up for the night. The idea is taken from a traveler who puts up for the night, or who rests for a night in his weary travels, and seeks repose. Compare Genesis 19:2; Gen 32:21; 2 Samuel 12:16; Judges 19:13. The word “wilderness” means, in the Scripture, a place not inhabited by man; a place where wild beasts resort; a place uncultivated. It does not denote, as with us, an extensive forest. It might be a place of rocks and sands, but the essential idea is, that it was not inhabited. See the notes at Matthew 4:1. In such a place, remote from the habitations of people, he felt that he might be at rest.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Psalms 55:7. Would I wander far off — He did escape; and yet his enemies were so near, as to throw stones at him: but he escaped beyond Jordan. 2 Samuel 17:22-23.

A passage in the Octavia of SENECA has been referred to as being parallel to this of David. It is in the answer of Octavia to the Chorus, Acts v., ver. 914-923.

Quis mea digne deflere potest

Mala? Quae lacrymis nostris quaestus

Reddet Aedon? cujus pennas

Utinam miserae mihi fata darent!

Fugerem luctus ablata meos

Penna volucri, procul et coetus

Hominum tristes sedemque feram.

Sola in vacuo nemore, et tenui

Ramo pendens, querulo possem

Gutture moestum fundere murmur.

My woes who enough can bewail?

O what notes can my sorrows express?

Sweet Philomel's self e'en would fail

To respond with her plaintive distress.

O had I her wings I would fly

To where sorrows I ne'er should feel more,

Upborne on her plumes through the sky,

Regions far from mankind would explore.

In a grove where sad silence should reign,

On a spray would I seat me alone;

In shrill lamentations complain,

And in wailings would pour forth my moan.

J. B. CLARKE.


 
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