Bible Commentaries
Psalms 55

Introduction

Psalms 55:0

STROPHE DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

READING CYCLE THREE (see “Guide to Good Bible Reading”)

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

1. First paragraph

2. Second paragraph

3. Third paragraph

4. Etc.

Verses 1-3

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psalms 55:1-3 1Give ear to my prayer, O God; And do not hide Yourself from my supplication. 2Give heed to me and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and am surely distracted, 3Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the pressure of the wicked; For they bring down trouble upon me And in anger they bear a grudge against me.

Psalms 55:1-3 This, like many Psalms in this section, deals with personal attacks. This Psalm is particularly painful because the assailants are friends (cf. Psalms 55:12-14).

There are several imperatives of request, one jussive, and two cohortatives.

1. give ear BDB 24, KB 27, Hiphil imperative, cf. Psalms 5:1; Psalms 17:1; Psalms 39:12; Psalms 49:1; Psalms 54:2, etc.

2. do not hide Yourself BDB 761, KB 834, Hithpael imperfect used in a jussive sense, cf. Psalms 10:1; Lamentations 3:56

3. give heed BDB 904, KB 1151, Hiphil imperative, cf. Psalms 5:2; Psalms 10:17; Psalms 17:1; Psalms 61:1; Psalms 86:6; Psalms 142:6

4. answer me BDB 772, KB 851, Qal imperative, cf. Psalms 4:1; Psalms 13:3; Psalms 17:6; Psalms 38:15; Psalms 60:5; Psalms 69:13, Psalms 69:16, Psalms 69:17; Psalms 86:1, etc.

5. I am restless BDB 923, KB 1194, Hiphil imperfect used in a cohortative sense

a. rare word used only four times, only here in Wisdom Literature; its meaning is unsure

b. JPSOA takes this word as “moan,” BDB 242, cf. Ps. 42:12; Psalms 43:5; Psalms 77:4

c. NKJV has “moan (BDB 242) noisily” (BDB 223)

6. I am surely distracted (lit. “be noisy”) BDB 223, KB 242, Hiphil cohortative, cf. LXX

The reasons for the psalmist's cry for help is given in Psalms 55:3.

1. because of the voice of my enemy

2. because of the pressure of the wicked

3. for they bring down (NET Bible suggests “rain down,” cf. Psalms 140:10) upon me

4. for in anger they bear a grudge against me

Verses 4-8

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psalms 55:4-8 4My heart is in anguish within me, And the terrors of death have fallen upon me. 5Fear and trembling come upon me, And horror has overwhelmed me. 6I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. 7Behold, I would wander far away, I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah. 8I would hasten to my place of refuge From the stormy wind and tempest.”

Psalms 55:4-8 This strophe describes how the psalmist feels (hyperbolic language) about the attacks of his adversaries.

1. my heart is in anguish within me BDB 296, KB 297, Qal imperfect, from root for pain in childbirth

2. the terrors of death have fallen upon me BDB 956, KB 709, Qal perfect, cf. Psalms 18:4-5; Psalms 116:3

3. fear and trembling come upon me BDB 97, KB 112, Qal imperfect

4. horror has overwhelmed me BDB 491, KB 487, Piel imperfect with waw, cf. Isaiah 21:4; Ezekiel 7:18

In light of these fears he tells what he would like to do to escape them (figurative language).

1. O that I had (lit. “give”) wings like a dove BDB 678, KB 733, Qal imperfect used in a cohortative sense

2. I would fly away BDB 733, KB 800, Qal cohortative

3. I would be at rest BDB 1014, KB 1496, Qal cohortative

4. I would wander far away BDB 934, KB 1221, Hiphil imperfect used in a cohortative sense

5. I would lodge in the wilderness BDB 533, KB 529, Qal imperfect used in a cohortative sense

6. I would hasten to my place of refuge BDB 301, KB 300, Hiphil cohortative

a. raging wind BDB 703 (only here)

b. tempest BDB 704

Psalms 55:4 “heart” See SPECIAL TOPIC: THE HEART.

▣ “the terrors of death” Death is fearful to fallen mankind (cf. Psalms 18:4-5; Psalms 116:3), but God is in control of death and will bring it to an end (cf. Isaiah 25:8; Hosea 13:14; 1 Corinthians 15:50-57; 2 Timothy 1:10).

Psalms 55:7 “Selah” See note at Psalms 3:2 and Intro. to Psalms, VII.

Psalms 55:8 “place of refuge” The noun (BDB 812) occurs only here and Psalms 18:2.

Verses 9-11

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psalms 55:9-11 9Confuse, O 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 iniquity and mischief are in her midst. 11Destruction is in her midst; Oppression and deceit do not depart from her streets.

Psalms 55:9-11 This strophe continues the prayer request of Psalms 55:1-2.

1. confuse (lit. “swallow up,” i.e., “destroy) BDB 118, KB 134, Piel imperative; this root could be used in the sense of “confuse,” cf. Psalms 107:27; Isaiah 3:12; Isaiah 9:16; Isaiah 19:3; Isaiah 28:7

2. divide their tongues BDB 811, KB 928, Piel imperative; this may be an allusion to Genesis 11:1-9.

Both #1 and #2 are prayers to disrupt/thwart the plans and schemes of the psalmist's enemies. Apparently they were causing trouble within the hometown of the psalmist (if David, then Jerusalem). They are political enemies!

1. I have seen violence in the city

2. I have seen strife in the city

3. day and night they go around her upon her walls

4. iniquity is in her midst

5. mischief is in her midst

6. oppression does not depart her streets (lit. plaza, BDB 932)

7. deceit does not depart her streets (lit, plaza/market place)

Numbers 3:0; Numbers 4:0; Numbers 5:0 may be an allusion to watchmen on the walls. In this case the watchmen are iniquity and mischief!

Verses 12-15

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psalms 55:12-15 12For it is not an enemy who reproaches me, Then I could bear 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 my equal, My companion and my familiar friend; 14We who had sweet fellowship together Walked in the house of God in the throng. 15Let death come deceitfully upon them; Let them go down alive to Sheol, For evil is in their dwelling, in their midst.

Psalms 55:12-15 This strophe identified those causing the trouble as the psalmist's acquaintances.

1. It is not an enemy who reproaches me I could bear it.

2. It is not one who hates me I could hide from him.

3. It is not one who exalted himself against me (cf. Psalms 35:26; Psalms 38:16; Job 19:5) I could hide from him.

4. It is you, a man

a. my equal

b. my companion

c. my familiar friend

5. We had sweet fellowship together.

6. We walked in the house of God together.

The psalmist reacts to their treachery.

1. Let death come deceitfully upon them Qere, BDB 674, KB 728, Hiphil imperfect used in a jussive sense

2. Let them go down to Sheol BDB 432, KB 434, Qal imperfect used in a jussive sense; for Sheol see SPECIAL TOPIC: Where Are the Dead?.

3. The reason for the psalmist's desire for their judgment:

a. evil in their dwelling place (BDB 158)

b. evil is in their midst

Since #3 does not parallel #2 well, there has been suggestion for emendation to “habitation.”

a. “go in terror to their graves”

b. “go in terror to the pit” (i.e., “storehouse” in the ground)

Psalms 55:14

NASB, NKJV, NRSV, REB“the throng” NJB“then they recoil in disorder”

The Hebrew word (BDB 921) is rare, used only three times in the OT.

1. the nations are in an uproar, cf. Psalms 2:1

2. a noisy, festival crowd in the temple, cf. Psalms 55:14

3. the tumult of those who do iniquity, cf. Psalms 64:2

Verses 16-21

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psalms 55:16-21 16As for me, I shall call upon God, And the Lord will save me. 17Evening and morning and at noon, I will complain and murmur, And He will hear my voice. 18He will redeem my soul in peace from the battle which is against me, For they are many who strive with me. 19God will hear and answer them Even the one who sits enthroned from of old Selah. With whom there is no change, And who do not fear God. 20He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him; He has violated his covenant. 21His speech was smoother than butter, But his heart was war; His words were softer than oil, Yet they were drawn swords.

Psalms 55:16-21 This strophe describes what God will do for/against

1. the psalmist

2. his betrayers

Psalms 55:19 is both a description of God (i.e., line 2, who sits enthroned from of old, cf. Psalms 45:6; Psalms 93:2; Lamentations 5:19) and the adversaries (i.e., line 3, who do not change). The confusion arises because line 3 could apply to God (cf. Matthew 3:6, i.e., Malachi 3:6), but here it refers to the unchanging evil hearts of the psalmist's enemies.

Psalms 55:16-19a gives the psalmist's prayers and God's response.

1. I shall call upon God BDB 894, KB 1128, Qal imperfect used in a cohortative sense

2. YHWH will save me BDB 446, KB 448, Hiphil imperfect

3. I will complain BDB 967, KB 1319, Qal cohortative, cf. Psalms 64:1; Psalms 142:2; this root can mean “meditate,” cf. Psalms 119:15, Psalms 119:23, Psalms 119:27, Psalms 119:148

4. I will murmur BDB 242, KB 250, Qal imperfect used in a cohortative sense

5. He will hear my voice BDB 1033, KB 1570, Qal imperfect with waw

6. He will redeem my soul from the battle BDB 804, KB 911, Qal perfect, see SPECIAL TOPIC: RANSOM/REDEEM

7. God will hear, Psalms 55:19a BDB 1033, KB 1570, Qal imperfect

In Psalms 55:19a God will answer the adversaries (in the sense of, “give them what they deserve” BDB 772, KB 851, Qal imperfect; this root can mean “answer” or “afflict.” We reap what we sow! Psalms 55:19-21 describes their hearts and actions (collective “he,” cf. Psalms 55:18c).

1. there is no change (no verb)

2. they do not fear God

3. they put forth their hands against those who were at peace

4. they violated the covenant

5. they have smooth speech but have war in their hearts

6. their soft words are like drawn swords

All the verbs in #2-6 are perfects, denoting a settled attitude of hate and rebellion.

Psalms 55:17 “evening and morning and at noon” The day begins at evening for ancient Israelites because of Genesis 1:5, Genesis 1:8, Genesis 1:13, Genesis 1:19, Genesis 1:23, Genesis 1:31. The “at noon” implies a later time when Judaism had three prayer times (cf. Daniel 6:10):

1. at the time of the morning sacrifice (about 9 a.m.)

2. noon

3. at the time of the evening sacrifice (about 3 p.m.)

It is surely possible that the phrase is an idiom for “continually.”

Psalms 55:19 “Selah” See note at Psalms 3:2 and Intro. to Psalms, VII.

Verses 22-23

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psalms 55:22-23 22Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. 23But You, O 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.

Psalms 55:22-23 This final strophe is a contrast of what God will do for the faithful follower and against the faithless friend(s).

1. the faithful follower

a. the psalmist admonishes them to cast (BDB 1020, KB 1527, Hiphil imperative) their burden (i.e., “lot,” BDB 396, only here and Psalms 37:5) upon YHWH (cf. 1 Peter 5:7)

b. follow the psalmist's example, “I will trust in You”

2. the faithless friend(s)

a. bring them down to the pit of destruction

b. men of bloodshed and deceit will live only half their allotted days

In light of the trust of the faithful, YHWH will

1. sustain them BDB 465, KB 463, Pilpel imperfect, cf. Ruth 4:15; Nehemiah 9:21

2. never allow them to be shaken BDB 557, cf. Psalms 125:1; Proverbs 10:30

Remember this Psalm describes the pain of betrayal and the many nights of prayer and discouragement at the actions of faithless friend(s). These last verses are not a promise of lack of problems but of YHWH's presence and care. In the end all will be set straight. We live in a fallen world, unfair and ungodly world. Believers suffer and are treated badly but there is more to life than the immediate circumstances!

One last comment, it is not certain who is speaking in this strophe and, therefore, to whom they are speaking.

1. a priest or prophet hears the psalmist and responds to him

2. the psalmist is speaking to

a. himself

b. his readers

c. others hurt by friends

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought provoking, not definitive.

1. Who are the enemies? Why are their actions so painful to the psalmist?

2. Describe the psalmist's feelings. (cf. Psalms 55:4-8)

3. How do Psalms 55:9-11 fit into this Psalm? What city is it referring to?

4. What is the problem in interpreting Psalms 55:19?

5. Put in your own words the kind of person Psalms 55:21 is talking about.

6. Who is speaking Psalms 55:22-23 and to whom?

7. List God's actions in Psalms 55:22-23.