1
For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A teaching psalm of David.
(55-2) Give ear, O God, to my prayer;
do not hide yourself from my plea!
2
(55-3) Attend to me and answer me!
I wander about and groan in my distress,
3
(55-4) because of the voice of the enemy,
because of the oppression of the wicked;
for they bring trouble upon me,
and in anger they bear a grudge against me.
4
(55-5) My heart is in anguish,
and the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
5
(55-6) Fear and trembling come upon me,
and horror has overwhelmed me.
6
(55-7) I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and find a place of rest,
7
(55-8) yes, I would flee far away
and stay overnight in the wilderness.” Selah
8
(55-9) I would hasten to find a refuge
from the stormy wind and tempest.”
9
(55-10) Confuse them, O Lord; divide their speech,
for I see violence and strife in the city!
10
(55-11) Day and night they go around it on its walls,
and within it are trouble and disaster;
11
(55-12) destruction is in its midst;
oppression and deceit do not depart from its marketplace.
12
(55-13) If it were an enemy who taunted me,
I could bear it;
if it were my foe who magnified himself against me,
I could hide from him.
13
(55-14) But it is you, a man like myself,
my companion and my close friend:
14
(55-15) we used to walk together in harmony,
and into the house of God among the throng.
15
(55-16) Let death seize them;
let them go down alive into Sheol!
For evil is in their dwelling place, yes, in their inner being.
16
(55-17) But I call to God,
and the LORD will save me.
17
(55-18) — Evening and morning and at noon I am troubled and groan;
and he hears my voice.
18
(55-19) He will redeem me in peace
from the battle against me,
for many are against me.
19
(55-20) God will hear and humble them,
— he who sits enthroned from of old. Selah
Because they do not change
and do not fear God.
20
(55-21) My companion has laid hands on those at peace with him;
he has broken his covenant.
21
(55-22) His mouth was smoother than butter,
yet war was in his heart;
his words were softer than oil,
yet they were drawn swords.
22
(55-23) Cast your burden on the LORD,
and he will sustain you!
He will never permit
the righteous to be moved.
23
(55-24) But you, O God, will bring them down
to the pit of destruction;
bloodthirsty and deceitful men
shall not live out half their days.
But I trust in you.
🕊️🙏📖 Summary of Psalm 55 – “A Friend’s Betrayal and a Cry to God”
Psalm 55 is a lament of David in a time of deep inner distress — not only because of outside enemies, but because of betrayal by a close friend, someone who once walked with him to the house of God. David pours out feelings of fear, anger, and disappointment, yet in the end he leans on the Lord as his support.
This psalm portrays very human inner turmoil, and how faith can still endure in the deepest wounds.
📌 1. A Cry Full of Sorrow (verses 1–8)
➡️ David asks the Lord to hear his complaint.
➡️ He is filled with fear, trembling, and wants to flee like a dove.
🎯 When the burden is too heavy, people want to run — but God invites us to cry out.
📌 2. Painful Betrayal (verses 9–15)
➡️ The city is filled with violence and betrayal.
➡️ But the most painful thing is the close companion who once spoke kindly, walked together to the house of God, and now turns against him.
🎯 Wounds from someone near cut deeper than attacks from an enemy.
📌 3. Trust in the Righteous God (verses 16–23)
➡️ David hands his trouble over to God.
➡️ He is sure: “God will hear and bring them low.”
➡️ “Cast your cares upon the Lord, and He will sustain you.”
🎯 Though betrayed, David did not retaliate, but entrusted it to God.
📖 Main Teaching
- Fear, sorrow, and anger are part of spiritual experience
- The betrayal of a friend can wound more deeply than open hostility
- True faith does not hide emotions, but brings them all to God
- The Lord cares for those who surrender, and lifts up the oppressed
- Repaying evil is not human work — God is the righteous Judge
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
📖 1 Peter 5:7
“Cast all your cares upon Him, because He cares for you.”
➡️ Directly echoes Psalm 55:22.
📖 Luke 22:47–48
“Jesus was betrayed by Judas with a kiss…”
➡️ Like David, Jesus too was betrayed by a friend.
📖 Romans 12:19
“Do not seek revenge for yourselves…”
➡️ David left judgment to God — a mature act of faith.
📖 Matthew 11:28
“Come to Me… and I will give you rest.”
➡️ When one wants to “run away,” the Lord instead gives refuge in Himself.
🕊️ “My heart is troubled, and the terrors of death have fallen upon me.” – Psalm 55:4
🕊️ “It was not an enemy who reproached me… but you, a man my equal.” – Psalm 55:12–13
🕊️ “Cast your burden on the LORD, and He will sustain you.” – Psalm 55:22
🕊️ “But I will trust in You.” – Psalm 55:23
