1 [[To the chief Musician H5329 on Neginoth, H5058 Maschil, H4905 A Psalm of David.]] H1732 Give ear H238 to my prayer, H8605 O God; H430 and hide H5956 not thyself from my supplication. H8467
[[To the chief Musician H5329 upon Neginah, H5058 A Psalm of David.]] H1732 Hear H8085 my cry, H7440 O God; H430 attend H7181 unto my prayer. H8605
[[A Prayer H8605 of David.]] H1732 Hear H8085 the right, H6664 O LORD, H3068 attend H7181 unto my cry, H7440 give ear H238 unto my prayer, H8605 that goeth not H3808 out of feigned H4820 lips. H8193
[[To the chief Musician H5329 on Neginoth, H5058 Maschil, H4905 A Psalm of David, H1732 when the Ziphims H2130 came H935 and said H559 to Saul, H7586 Doth not David H1732 hide H5641 himself with us?]] Save H3467 me, O God, H430 by thy name, H8034 and judge H1777 me by thy strength. H1369 Hear H8085 my prayer, H8605 O God; H430 give ear H238 to the words H561 of my mouth. H6310
[[To the chief Musician, H5329 A Psalm H4210 of David.]] H1732 Hear H8085 my voice, H6963 O God, H430 in my prayer: H7879 preserve H5341 my life H2416 from fear H6343 of the enemy. H341
O LORD H3068 God H430 of hosts, H6635 how long wilt thou be angry H6225 against the prayer H8605 of thy people? H5971
Hear H6030 me speedily, H4118 O LORD: H3068 my spirit H7307 faileth: H3615 hide H5641 not thy face H6440 from me, lest I be like H4911 unto them that go down H3381 into the pit. H953
Also when I cry H2199 and shout, H7768 he shutteth out H5640 my prayer. H8605
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 55
Commentary on Psalms 55 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 55
Ps 55:1-23. In great terror on account of enemies, and grieved by the treachery of a friend, the Psalmist offers an earnest prayer for relief. He mingles confident assurances of divine favor to himself with invocations and predictions of God's avenging judgments on the wicked. The tone suits David's experience, both in the times of Saul and Absalom, though perhaps neither was exclusively before his mind.
1. hide not thyself, &c.—(compare Ps 13:1; 27:9), withhold not help.
2. The terms of the last clause express full indulgence of grief.
3. oppression—literally, "persecution."
they … iniquity—literally, "they make evil doings slide upon me."
4, 5. express great alarm.
5. come upon—or literally, "into."
6. be at rest—literally, "dwell," that is, permanently.
7, 8. Even a wilderness is a safer place than exposure to such evils, terrible as storm and tempest.
9. Destroy—literally, "swallow" (Ps 21:9).
divide their tongues—or, "confound their speech," and hence their counsels (Ge 11:7).
the city—perhaps Jerusalem, the scene of anarchy.
10, 11. which is described in detail (compare Ps 7:14-16).
11. Wickedness—literally, "Mischief," evils resulting from others (Ps 5:9; 52:2, 7).
streets—or literally, "wide places," markets, courts of justice, and any public place.
12-14. This description of treachery does not deny, but aggravates, the injury from enemies.
13. guide—literally, "friend" (Pr 16:28; 17:9).
acquaintance—in Hebrew, a yet more intimate associate.
14. in company—literally, "with a crowd," in a festal procession.
15. Let death, &c.—or, "Desolations are on them."
let them go—literally, "they will go."
quick—or, living in the midst of life, death will come (compare Nu 16:33).
among them—or, "within them," in their hearts (Ps 5:9; 49:11).
16-18. God answers his constant and repeated prayers.
18. many with me—that is, by the context, fighting with me.
19. God hears the wicked in wrath.
abideth—or, "sitteth."
of old—enthroned as a sovereign.
Because … no changes—Prosperity hardens them (Ps 73:5).
20, 21. The treachery is aggravated by hypocrisy. The changes of number, Ps 55:15, 23, and here, enliven the picture, and imply that the chief traitor and his accomplices are in view together.
22. thy burden—literally, "gift," what is assigned you.
he shall sustain—literally, "supply food," and so all need (Ps 37:25; Mt 6:11).
to be moved—from the secure position of His favor (compare Ps 10:6).
23. bloody … days—(compare Ps 5:6; 51:14), deceit and murderous dispositions often united. The threat is directed specially (not as a general truth) against the wicked, then in the writer's view.