11 Wickedness H1942 is in the midst H7130 thereof: deceit H8496 and guile H4820 depart H4185 not from her streets. H7339
His mouth H6310 is full H4390 of cursing H423 and deceit H4820 and fraud: H8496 under his tongue H3956 is mischief H5999 and vanity. H205
For among my people H5971 are found H4672 wicked H7563 men: they lay wait, H7789 as he that setteth H7918 snares; H3353 they set H5324 a trap, H4889 they catch H3920 men. H582 As a cage H3619 is full H4392 of birds, H5775 so are their houses H1004 full H4392 of deceit: H4820 therefore they are become great, H1431 and waxen rich. H6238
For the mouth H6310 of the wicked H7563 and the mouth H6310 of the deceitful H4820 are opened H6605 against me: they have spoken H1696 against me with a lying H8267 tongue. H3956 They compassed H5437 me about also with words H1697 of hatred; H8135 and fought H3898 against me without a cause. H2600
Their feet H7272 run H7323 to evil, H7451 and they make haste H4116 to shed H8210 innocent H5355 blood: H1818 their thoughts H4284 are thoughts H4284 of iniquity; H205 wasting H7701 and destruction H7667 are in their paths. H4546
And they bend H1869 their tongues H3956 like their bow H7198 for lies: H8267 but they are not valiant H1396 for the truth H530 upon the earth; H776 for they proceed H3318 from evil H7451 to evil, H7451 and they know H3045 not me, saith H5002 the LORD. H3068 Take ye heed H8104 every one H376 of his neighbour, H7453 and trust H982 ye not in any brother: H251 for every brother H251 will utterly H6117 supplant, H6117 and every neighbour H7453 will walk H1980 with slanders. H7400 And they will deceive H2048 every one H376 his neighbour, H7453 and will not speak H1696 the truth: H571 they have taught H3925 their tongue H3956 to speak H1696 lies, H8267 and weary H3811 themselves to commit iniquity. H5753
Moreover the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 came unto me, saying, H559 Now, thou son H1121 of man, H120 wilt thou judge, H8199 wilt thou judge H8199 the bloody H1818 city? H5892 yea, thou shalt shew H3045 her all her abominations. H8441 Then say H559 thou, Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD, H3069 The city H5892 sheddeth H8210 blood H1818 in the midst H8432 of it, that her time H6256 may come, H935 and maketh H6213 idols H1544 against herself to defile H2930 herself. Thou art become guilty H816 in thy blood H1818 that thou hast shed; H8210 and hast defiled H2930 thyself in thine idols H1544 which thou hast made; H6213 and thou hast caused thy days H3117 to draw near, H7126 and art come H935 even unto thy years: H8141 therefore have I made H5414 thee a reproach H2781 unto the heathen, H1471 and a mocking H7048 to all countries. H776 Those that be near, H7138 and those that be far H7350 from thee, shall mock H7046 thee, which art infamous H2931 H8034 and much H7227 vexed. H4103 Behold, the princes H5387 of Israel, H3478 every one H376 were in thee to their power H2220 to shed H8210 blood. H1818 In thee have they set light H7043 by father H1 and mother: H517 in the midst H8432 of thee have they dealt H6213 by oppression H6233 with the stranger: H1616 in thee have they vexed H3238 the fatherless H3490 and the widow. H490 Thou hast despised H959 mine holy things, H6944 and hast profaned H2490 my sabbaths. H7676 In thee are men H582 that carry tales H7400 to shed H8210 blood: H1818 and in thee they eat H398 upon the mountains: H2022 in the midst H8432 of thee they commit H6213 lewdness. H2154 In thee have they discovered H1540 their fathers' H1 nakedness: H6172 in thee have they humbled H6031 her that was set apart H5079 for pollution. H2931 And one H376 hath committed H6213 abomination H8441 with his neighbour's H7453 wife; H802 and another H376 hath lewdly H2154 defiled H2930 his daughter in law; H3618 and another H376 in thee hath humbled H6031 his sister, H269 his father's H1 daughter. H1323 In thee have they taken H3947 gifts H7810 to shed H8210 blood; H1818 thou hast taken H3947 usury H5392 and increase, H8636 and thou hast greedily gained H1214 of thy neighbours H7453 by extortion, H6233 and hast forgotten H7911 me, saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD. H3069
And G2532 consulted G4823 that G2443 they might take G2902 Jesus G2424 by subtilty, G1388 and G2532 kill G615 him.
Ye stiffnecked G4644 and G2532 uncircumcised G564 in heart G2588 and G2532 ears, G3775 ye G5210 do G496 always G104 resist G496 the Holy G40 Ghost: G4151 as G5613 your G5216 fathers G3962 did, so G2532 do ye. G5210 Which G5101 of the prophets G4396 have G1377 not G3756 your G5216 fathers G3962 persecuted? G1377 and G2532 they have slain G615 them which G3588 shewed before G4293 of G4012 the coming G1660 of the Just One; G1342 of whom G3739 ye G5210 have been G1096 now G3568 the betrayers G4273 and G2532 murderers: G5406
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.