Psalms 55

Cast your burden on the Lord

isten to my prayer, O God. Do not ignore my cry for help!a ²Please listen and answer me, for I am overwhelmed by my troubles.b ³My enemies shout at me, making loud and wicked threats. They bring trouble on me and angrily hunt me down.

⁴My heart pounds in my chest. The terror of death assaults me. ⁵Fear and trembling overwhelm me, and I can’t stop shaking. ⁶Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest!

⁷I would fly far away to the quiet of the wilderness. Interlude ⁸How quickly I would escape— far from this wild storm of hatred. ⁹Confuse them, Lord, and frustrate their plans, for I see violence and conflict in the city.

¹⁰Its walls are patrolled day and night against invaders, but the real danger is wickedness within the city. ¹¹Everything is falling apart; threats and cheating are rampant in the streets. ¹²It is not an enemy who taunts me— I could bear that. It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me— I could have hidden from them.c

¹³Instead, it is you—my equal, my companion and close friend. ¹⁴What good fellowship we once enjoyed as we walked together to the house of God. ¹⁵Let death stalk my enemies; let the grave swallow them alive, for evil makes its home within them.d

¹⁶But I will call on God, and the Lord will rescue me. ¹⁷Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my distress, and the Lord hears my voice.e ¹⁸He ransoms me and keeps me safe from the battle waged against me, though many still oppose me.f

¹⁹God, who has ruled forever, will hear me and humble them. Interlude For my enemies refuse to change their ways; they do not fear God. ²⁰As for my companion, he betrayed his friends; he broke his promises. ²¹His words are as smooth as butter, but in his heart is war. His words are as soothing as lotion, but underneath are daggers!g

²²Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.h ²³But you, O God, will send the wicked down to the pit of destruction. Murderers and liars will die young, but I am trusting you to save me.

Commentary

Psalms 55 is a desperate lament from David, likely written during Absalom's rebellion or a similar betrayal by a trusted friend. The psalmist cries out for deliverance from enemies and, more painfully, from the treachery of a close companion. The chapter moves from raw anguish to a

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Bible Dictionary· Psalms 55(6)

Battle Cry House Pit The Way Voice

References· Psalms 55

a: v.1 — 1 Peter 3:12, Psalms 86:6, Psalms 61:1, Psalms 27:9, Psalms 80:1, Psalms 64:1, Psalms 54:1-2, Psalms 84:8, Psalms 143:7, Psalms 5:1
b: v.2 — Isaiah 38:14, Psalms 66:19, Psalms 77:3, Isaiah 59:11, Psalms 64:1, Psalms 43:2, Psalms 102:9-10, Psalms 38:6, Psalms 32:3, Psalms 13:1-2
c: v.12 — Betrayed by a friend, not enemy: John 13:18, Luke 22:47; Psalms 41:9, John 13:18, Matthew 26:21-23, Psalms 35:26, John 18:2-3, Psalms 38:16, Isaiah 10:15
d: v.15 — Death of the impenitent traitor: Matthew 27:3, Acts 1:16; Psalms 59:13, Psalms 9:17, Acts 1:18-20, Psalms 109:6-20, Psalms 64:7, 2 Samuel 18:14, Acts 1:25, Matthew 26:24, Numbers 16:30-34, Matthew 27:5
e: v.17 — 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Ephesians 6:18, Psalms 141:2, Acts 3:1, Hebrews 5:7, Mark 1:35, Daniel 6:10, Acts 10:9, Psalms 119:147-148, Psalms 92:2
f: v.18 — Psalms 3:6-7, 2 Samuel 22:1, Matthew 26:53, 2 Chronicles 32:7-8, 1 John 4:4, Psalms 57:3, Psalms 27:1-3, Psalms 118:10-12, Acts 2:33-36, 2 Samuel 18:28
g: v.21 — Psalms 57:4, Proverbs 5:3-4, Proverbs 26:28, Psalms 28:3, Psalms 12:2, Luke 20:20-21, Psalms 64:3, Proverbs 26:24-26, Matthew 26:25, Psalms 62:4
h: v.22 — 1 Peter 5:7, Psalms 37:5, Philippians 4:6-7, Matthew 6:25, Psalms 62:6, Psalms 16:8, Psalms 37:24, Psalms 27:14, Psalms 62:2, Matthew 11:28

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