Psalm 55 is one of the most powerful passages in the Book of Psalms. Written by David, it reveals the pain of betrayal, the weight of inner anguish, and at the same time the hope that springs from faith in God. Psalm 55 is an emotional cry that still echoes in the soul of anyone who has suffered the falseness of someone close or is living through moments of affliction.
In this article, we will explore Psalm 55 in depth, bringing its historical context, the division of the text, verse-by-verse interpretations, spiritual messages, as well as curiosities and frequently asked questions about this biblical passage.
Psalm 55 Complete
¹ Give ear, O God, to my prayer, and do not hide Yourself from my supplication.
² Attend to me and hear me; I mourn in my complaint and make a noise,
³ Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked; for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.
⁴ My heart is severely pained within me, and the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
⁵ Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, and horror has overwhelmed me.
⁶ So I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.”
⁷ Indeed, I would flee far away; I would lodge in the wilderness. (Selah.)
⁸ I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.
⁹ Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues, for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
¹⁰ Day and night they go around it on its walls; iniquity and trouble are also in the midst of it.
¹¹ Destruction is in its midst; deceit and guile do not depart from its streets.
¹² For it was not an enemy who reproached me; then I could bear it. Nor was it one who hated me who exalted himself against me; then I could have hidden from him.
¹³ But it was you, a man my equal, my companion and my intimate friend.
¹⁴ We took sweet counsel together, and walked to the house of God in company.
¹⁵ Let death seize them; let them go down alive into the grave, for wickedness is in their dwellings and among them.
¹⁶ As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save me.
¹⁷ Evening and morning and at noon I will pray and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice.
¹⁸ He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, for there were many against me.
¹⁹ God will hear and afflict them—He who abides from of old (Selah)—because they do not change, and therefore they do not fear God.
²⁰ He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him; he has broken his covenant.
²¹ The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.
²² Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.
²³ But You, O God, shall bring them down to the pit of destruction; men of blood and deceit shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in You.
Psalm 55 Study – Complete Explanation
Psalm 55:1
“Give ear, O God, to my prayer, and do not hide Yourself from my supplication.”
David opens the psalm with an urgent plea. He cries out for divine attention, showing desperation and spiritual need. It is a request that God not ignore his suffering.
Psalm 55:2
“Attend to me and hear me; I mourn in my complaint and make a noise,”
Here David shows he is in deep agony. The “noise” represents a restless, disturbed soul that finds neither rest nor comfort.
Psalm 55:3
“Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked; for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.”
David reveals the cause of his affliction: he is the target of hatred and injustice. External pressure from enemies is feeding his inner anguish.
Psalm 55:4
“My heart is severely pained within me, and the terrors of death have fallen upon me.”
David’s suffering is both physical and emotional. He feels pain in his heart, as if under constant threat of death, living an existential dread.
Psalm 55:5
“Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, and horror has overwhelmed me.”
The intensity of fear is so great that it completely dominates him. David describes symptoms of panic, showing how the pressure of the moment paralyzes him.
Psalm 55:6
“So I said, ‘Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.’”
In this verse, the desire to escape emerges. David would like to flee from pain, like a dove that flies far away in search of peace.
Psalm 55:7
“Indeed, I would flee far away; I would lodge in the wilderness. (Selah.)”
He expresses his wish to withdraw completely from everything, even from human companionship, going to the desert – a place of total isolation.
Psalm 55:8
“I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.”
David does not just want to flee but to escape the symbolic “storm” of suffering, confusion, and danger he is experiencing.
Psalm 55:9
“Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues, for I have seen violence and strife in the city.”
Here he cries out for divine intervention. He asks God to confuse the wicked, as He did at Babel. David sees corruption and discord in society.
Psalm 55:10
“Day and night they go around it on its walls; iniquity and trouble are also in the midst of it.”
Evil is constant and unrelenting. David observes that the city walls are surrounded by injustice as though it were something habitual.
Psalm 55:11
“Destruction is in its midst; deceit and guile do not depart from its streets.”
The city is filled with falsehood. Evil inhabits public places, and lies have become part of everyday life.
Psalm 55:12
“For it was not an enemy who reproached me; then I could bear it; nor was it one who hated me who exalted himself against me; then I could have hidden from him.”
This is one of the most moving moments of the psalm. David reveals that the pain does not come from an open enemy but from someone close.
Psalm 55:13
“But it was you, a man my equal, my companion and my intimate friend.”
The betrayal came from a trusted person, a soul companion. This intensifies the suffering, making it more personal and profound.
Psalm 55:14
“We took sweet counsel together, and walked to the house of God in company.”
The traitor was a spiritual partner with whom David attended the temple. This shows the breach of trust within his own circle of faith.
Psalm 55:15
“Let death seize them; let them go down alive into the grave, for wickedness is in their dwellings and among them.”
David utters a severe judgment. He asks that the wicked be justly punished by God, for their hearts are full of malice.
Psalm 55:16
“As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save me.”
Here there is a change of tone. David reaffirms his faith. Even in the face of betrayal, his response is not revenge but prayer.
Psalm 55:17
“Evening and morning and at noon I will pray and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice.”
David shows persistence in prayer. At all times of day, he seeks God, certain that he will be heard.
Psalm 55:18
“He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, for there were many against me.”
He acknowledges that God protected him amid conflicts and that he was not alone. The presence of allies strengthened his spirit.
Psalm 55:19
“God will hear and afflict them—He who abides from of old (Selah)—because they do not change, and therefore they do not fear God.”
God, the eternal Judge, will punish the rebellious. They show no repentance or fear, so they will face consequences.
Psalm 55:20
“He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him; he has broken his covenant.”
Once again, betrayal is evident. David describes one who violated agreements and destroyed the trust of those at peace with him.
Psalm 55:21
“The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.”
This verse portrays the traitor’s hypocrisy. His sweet words hid violent intentions – a classic description of duplicity.
Psalm 55:22
“Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.”
This is the psalm’s central counsel. Surrendering pain and concerns to God is the path to emotional and spiritual stability.
Psalm 55:23
“But You, O God, shall bring them down to the pit of destruction; men of blood and deceit shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in You.”
The psalm ends with confidence in divine justice. David affirms that the wicked will have a tragic end, but he, even in pain, will continue to trust in God.
The Context of Psalm 55
Psalm 55 was written by David at a moment of great anguish. There are indications that he referred to an episode of betrayal within his innermost circle. Some scholars associate this text with the betrayal of Ahithophel, David’s trusted counselor who turned against him during the rebellion of Absalom, his own son.
The emotional depth of Psalm 55 shows how the pain of betrayal can be sharper than external dangers. David does not fear only his enemies; he suffers because he was wounded by someone he considered a friend.
Structure of Psalm 55
Psalm 55 is divided into three main parts:
- The initial cry, where David expresses his anguish.
- The description of betrayal and emotional pain.
- The final trust in divine justice.
The Pain of Betrayal in David’s Words
Feelings of Anxiety
David begins Psalm 55 by crying out to God to hear his prayer. He reveals that he is agitated and oppressed by the enemy. The emotional intensity of the first words is a true portrait of one gripped by anxiety.
Desire to Flee
In one of the most well-known passages of Psalm 55, David expresses the desire to have wings like a dove to escape from pain. This metaphor shows how much he longs to flee the cruel reality he is facing.
The Confession of Betrayal
The climax of suffering comes when David reveals that the one who wounded him was not a declared enemy but someone who walked at his side. This revelation makes Psalm 55 even more powerful, as many readers identify with this experience of disappointment.
Trust in Divine Judgment
Despite all the pain, anguish, and betrayal expressed throughout Psalm 55, the text does not end in despair. David makes a powerful transition from pain to faith. He ends his prayer not with laments but with a firm act of trust: “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you” (verse 22).
This statement is more than emotional relief – it is a profound spiritual principle. By saying that he will cast his burden on God, David teaches us that it is possible to transform suffering into inner strength when we choose to trust in Divine Judgment.
Faith as a Response to Injustice
Faced with such deep betrayal, it would be understandable for David to desire revenge. However, his choice is different: he places judgment in God’s hands. This surrender is not passive but active – it is filled with faith, for he recognizes that God is just and that, in due time, truth will be revealed and justice will be done.
An Invitation to Surrender
Psalm 55 teaches that trust in divine justice is not just an abstract idea but a practical invitation: to hand our pain over to God, trust that He sees everything, and that He will sustain those who walk with integrity. This surrender, described with the image of casting care, is an act of freedom: we stop carrying the weight alone and allow God to walk with us.
Sustained Even in the Storm
David affirms that God “will never permit the righteous to be moved.” This promise does not mean the absence of problems but firmness amid adversity. Trust in divine judgment does not eliminate suffering but guarantees support even in the darkest days.
Justice without Hatred
Another striking point of Psalm 55 is that David desires God’s justice, not personal vengeance. He does not seek to resolve with his own hands what only God can fix. This aspect is a powerful teaching: we can desire the triumph of truth and the punishment of evil without becoming contaminated by hatred or rancor.
Conclusion of the Teaching
Trust in divine judgment transforms David’s prayer into a testimony of resilient faith. By handing his pain over to the Lord, he shows us a safe path: even when we are betrayed, abandoned, or persecuted, we can find peace by trusting that God sees, hears, and acts.
Psalm 55 ends with a choice: “but I will trust in You.” It is this trust that restores the soul and allows us to move forward with hope.
Powerful Messages from Psalm 55
We Are Not Alone in Pain
Psalm 55 reminds us that even great spiritual leaders like David faced deep betrayals. This comforts us by showing that we are not alone.
Prayer as Refuge
Instead of retaliating, David cries out to God. This teaches that the best way to deal with injustices is to seek spiritual refuge.
Strength Comes from Trust
The end of Psalm 55 reinforces the idea that trust in God is the way to restore a wounded heart.
Applications of Psalm 55 for Today
Relationships and Disappointments
In times when personal relationships are fragile, Psalm 55 helps us deal with disappointments without losing hope.
Strengthened Spirituality
This psalm is an excellent example of how spirituality can be used to overcome emotional wounds.
Meditation and Inner Peace
Meditating on Psalm 55 daily can help restore emotional balance and bring peace even in the face of adversity.
Curiosities about Psalm 55
- It is one of the psalms most often cited in devotionals about emotional pain.
- Verse 22 is frequently used in messages of comfort.
- It is one of the few psalms that deal specifically with pain caused by someone close.
Tips for Meditating on Psalm 55
Read Slowly and Attentively
Slow reading allows you to absorb every feeling expressed by David.
Reflect on Your Own Experiences
Think about situations you have faced and how this psalm relates to your life.
Use the Psalm as a Prayer
Psalm 55 can serve as a basis for personal prayers, especially in times of emotional suffering.
Frequently Asked Questions about Psalm 55
What does it mean to cast your burden on God?
It means handing worries and pain over to the Lord, trusting that He has power to resolve what is beyond our control.
Does Psalm 55 speak about forgiveness?
Indirectly, yes. It shows the path of suffering without vengeance, focusing on surrendering to God instead of reacting with hatred.
Who betrayed David in the context of the psalm?
It is believed that the betrayal mentioned was by Ahithophel, but the text can also apply to other situations of betrayal that David faced.
Why is the psalm so frequently cited?
Because it expresses with great depth universal emotions: sadness, fear, disappointment, and trust. This makes it timeless.
What is the main teaching of Psalm 55?
That even in the midst of the deepest pain, we can trust in God and find safe refuge in His presence.
Conclusion
Psalm 55 is more than a lament. It is a vivid example of how we can transform pain into trust, disappointment into faith, and anguish into hope. It teaches us that there is no suffering so great that it cannot be handed over to God. Meditating on this psalm strengthens the spirit and renews the soul to continue the journey of life with courage and faith.
READ ALSO:
- Psalm 54: Trust in Divine Help Amid Betrayal
- Psalm 53: A Reflection on Human Folly and Divine Justice
- Psalm 52: Understand the Message of Justice and Trust
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