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PSALMS 55

Old Testament Studies
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STROPHE DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

NASB NKJV NRSV TEV NJB
Prayer for the Destruction of the Treacherous
MT Intro
For the choir director on
stringed instruments. A Maskil of David.		 Trust in God Concerning the Treachery of Friends A Prayer For Deliverance From Personal Enemies The Prayer of Someone Betrayed by a Friend Prayer When Slandered
55:1-3 55:1-3 55:1-3 55:1-3 55:1-2b
        55:2c-3
55:4-8 55:4-8 55:4-8 55:4-9a 55:4-5
        55:6-7
        55:8-9b
55:9-11 55:9-11 55:9-11 55:9b-11 55:9c-10a
        55:10b-11
55:12-15 55:12-14 55:12-15 55:12-15 55:12
        55:13-14b
        55:14c-15
  55:15      
55:16-21 55:16-19 55:16-19 55:16-19 55:16-17b
        55:17c-18
        55:19
  55:20-21 55:20-21 55:20-21 55:20-21
55:22-23 55:22 55:22 55:22 55:22
  55:23 55:23 55:23 55:23a-b
        55:23c

READING CYCLE THREE (see
“Bible
Interpretation Seminar”)

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, etc.

WORD AND PHRASE STUDY

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 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.

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. Ps. 55:12-14).

There are several IMPERATIVES OF REQUEST, one JUSSIVE,
and two COHORTATIVES.

  1. give ear – BDB 24, KB 27, Hiphil IMPERATIVE, cf. Ps. 5:1; 17:1;
    39:12; 49:1; 54:2, etc.
  2. do not hide Yourself – BDB 761, KB 834, Hithpael IMPERFECT used
    in a JUSSIVE sense, cf. Ps. 10:1; Lam. 3:56
  3. give heed – BDB 904, KB 1151, Hiphil IMPERATIVE, cf. Ps. 5:2;
    10:17; 17:1; 61:1; 86:6; 142:6
  4. answer me – BDB 772, KB 851, Qal IMPERATIVE, cf. Ps. 4:1; 13:3;
    17:6; 38:15; 60:5; 69:13,16,17; 86:1, etc.
  5. I am restless – BDB 923, KB 1194, Hiphil IMPERFECT used in a
    COHORTATIVE sense

     

    1. rare word used only four times, only here in Wisdom Literature; its meaning is unsure
    2. JPSOA takes this word as “moan,” BDB 242, cf. Ps. 42:12; 43:5; 77:4
    3. 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 Ps. 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. Ps. 140:10) upon me
  4. for in anger they bear a grudge against me

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 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.”

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. Ps. 18:4-5; 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. Isa. 21:4; Ezek. 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

     

    1. raging wind – BDB 703 (only here)
    2. tempest – BDB 704

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

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

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

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

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 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.

55:9-11 This strophe continues the prayer request of Ps. 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. Ps. 107:27; Isa. 3:12; 9:16; 19:3; 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; 4; 5 may be an allusion to watchmen on the walls. In this case the watchmen
are iniquity and mischief!

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 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.

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. Ps. 35:26;
    38:16; Job 19:5) – I could hide from him.
  4. It is you, a man
    1. my equal
    2. my companion
    3. 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:
    1. evil in their dwelling place (BDB 158)
    2. evil is in their midst

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

    3. “go in terror to their graves”
    4. “go in terror to the pit” (i.e., “storehouse” in the ground)
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. Ps. 2:1
  2. a noisy, festival crowd in the temple, cf. Ps. 55:14
  3. the tumult of those who do iniquity, cf. Ps. 64:2

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 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.

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

  1. the psalmist
  2. his betrayers

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

Psalm 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. Ps. 64:1; 142:2; this root can mean “meditate,” cf. Ps. 119:15,23,27,148
  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, Ps. 55:19a – BDB 1033, KB 1570, Qal IMPERFECT

In Ps. 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! Psalm 55:19c-21 describes
their hearts and actions (collective “he,” cf. Ps. 55:18b).

  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.

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

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

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 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.

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
    1. the psalmist admonishes them to cast (BDB 1020, KB 1527, Hiphil
      IMPERATIVE) their burden (i.e., “lot,” BDB 396, only
      here and Ps. 37:5) upon YHWH (cf. 1 Pet. 5:7)
    2. follow the psalmist’s example, “I will trust in You”
  2. the faithless friend(s)
    1. bring them down to the pit of destruction
    2. 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;
    Neh. 9:21
  2. never allow them to be shaken – BDB 557, cf. Ps. 125:1; Pro. 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
    1. himself
    2. his readers
    3. 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. Ps. 55:4-8)
  3. How do Ps. 55:9-11 fit into this Psalm? What city is it referring to?
  4. What is the problem in interpreting Ps. 55:19?
  5. Put in your own words the kind of person Ps. 55:21 is talking about.
  6. Who is speaking Ps. 55:22-23 and to whom?
  7. List God’s actions in Ps. 55:22-23.

 

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Lessons International

 

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