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Identify the explicit claims before importing later doctrine or assumptions.
PSALMS • CHAPTER 55
Psalms 55
Prayer, praise, lament, kingship, justice, suffering, worship, wisdom, anger, hope, and Israel's poetic life with God.
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Psalms 55
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1
Listen to my prayer, God.
Don’t hide yourself from my supplication.
Don’t hide yourself from my supplication.
2
Attend to me, and answer me.
I am restless in my complaint,
and moan
I am restless in my complaint,
and moan
3
because of the voice of the enemy,
because of the oppression of the wicked.
For they bring suffering on me.
In anger they hold a grudge against me.
because of the oppression of the wicked.
For they bring suffering on me.
In anger they hold a grudge against me.
4
My heart is severely pained within me.
The terrors of death have fallen on me.
The terrors of death have fallen on me.
5
Fearfulness and trembling have come on me.
Horror has overwhelmed me.
Horror has overwhelmed me.
6
I said, “Oh that I had wings like a dove!
Then I would fly away, and be at rest.
Then I would fly away, and be at rest.
7
Behold, then I would wander far off.
I would lodge in the wilderness.”
I would lodge in the wilderness.”
8
“I would hurry to a shelter from the stormy wind and storm.”
9
Confuse them, Lord, and confound their language,
for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
10
Day and night they prowl around on its walls.
Malice and abuse are also within her.
Malice and abuse are also within her.
11
Destructive forces are within her.
Threats and lies don’t depart from her streets.
Threats and lies don’t depart from her streets.
12
For it was not an enemy who insulted me,
then I could have endured it.
Neither was it he who hated me who raised himself up against me,
then I would have hidden myself from him.
then I could have endured it.
Neither was it he who hated me who raised himself up against me,
then I would have hidden myself from him.
13
But it was you, a man like me,
my companion, and my familiar friend.
my companion, and my familiar friend.
14
We took sweet fellowship together.
We walked in God’s house with company.
We walked in God’s house with company.
15
Let death come suddenly on them.
Let them go down alive into Sheol.
For wickedness is among them, in their dwelling.
Let them go down alive into Sheol.
For wickedness is among them, in their dwelling.
16
As for me, I will call on God.
Yahweh will save me.
Yahweh will save me.
17
Evening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress.
He will hear my voice.
He will hear my voice.
18
He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me,
although there are many who oppose me.
although there are many who oppose me.
19
God, who is enthroned forever,
will hear and answer them.
They never change,
who don’t fear God.
will hear and answer them.
They never change,
who don’t fear God.
20
He raises his hands against his friends.
He has violated his covenant.
He has violated his covenant.
21
His mouth was smooth as butter,
but his heart was war.
His words were softer than oil,
yet they were drawn swords.
but his heart was war.
His words were softer than oil,
yet they were drawn swords.
22
Cast your burden on Yahweh and he will sustain you.
He will never allow the righteous to be moved.
He will never allow the righteous to be moved.
23
But you, God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction.
Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days,
but I will trust in you.
Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days,
but I will trust in you.
POETRY
Where this chapter fits
Psalms belongs to Israel's wisdom/poetic tradition, where literary form matters as much as historical setting.
Chapter numbers were added long after the biblical books were written.
Read this chapter together with what comes immediately before and after it.
ANCIENT TEXT, MODERN QUESTIONS
Historical claims should be compared with historical evidence.
Scientific claims should be compared with science.
Moral claims should be examined morally.
Theological claims require theological and philosophical argument.
QUESTIONS WORTH ASKING
Don't skip the hard parts.
What kind of literature is this?
Narrative, poetry, prophecy, law, letters, wisdom, and apocalypse communicate differently.
What historical evidence matters?
Ask whether names, places, institutions, events, customs, and chronology can be independently investigated.
What are the strongest competing interpretations?
Compare serious Jewish, Christian, academic, and skeptical readings rather than caricatures.
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