The big picture
Psalms 55 opens in verse 1 with “Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.”, reaches its middle movement near verse 12 with “For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it…”, and closes in verse 23 with “But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful…” Repeated or prominent terms include hear, LORD, death, enemy, heart. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Psalms · King James Version · 23Psalms 55:1-8
1–8: Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.
Psalms 55:1–8 opens with “Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.” and reaches “I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 55 develops its own movement around hear, LORD, death, enemy, heart, with particular weight carried by Attend, complaint, death.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.” Naming Give keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
Psalms 55:1-8
King James Version1Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.
2Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;
3Because 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.
4My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
5Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
6And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.
7Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.
8I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.
Psalms 55:9-16
9–16: Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and…
Psalms 55:9–16 opens with “Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.” and reaches “As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 55 develops its own movement around hear, LORD, death, enemy, heart, with particular weight carried by LORD, midst, wickedness.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.” Naming Destroy keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.” Naming Wickedness keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Psalms 55:9-16
King James Version9Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
10Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.
11Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
12For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:
13But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.
14We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.
15Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.
16As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.
Psalms 55:17-23
17–23: Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he…
Psalms 55:17–23 opens with “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” and reaches “But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 55 develops its own movement around hear, LORD, death, enemy, heart, with particular weight carried by hear, peace, words.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.” The line’s distinctive content terms include battle, delivered, peace. Its relationship to verses 17 and 19 shows what work it does in this passage.
Psalms 55:17-23
King James Version17Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
18He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.
19God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.
20He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.
21The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.
22Cast thy burden upon the LORD , and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
23But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Psalms 55:1 begins with “Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.”
Where the chapter turns
Psalms 55:13 forms a natural hinge: “But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.”
The final note
Psalms 55:23 leaves the reader with “But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words hear, LORD, death, enemy, heart, midst help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.