Keraia
Psalm 55

Psalm 55:20

Cast Your Burden upon the LORD · Psalm 55:1–23
Read Psalm 55

Translations

Modern
My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.
Traditional
He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.
Literal
He has stretched out his hands against those united with him; he has profaned his covenant.
Latin
Extendit manum suam in retribuendo; contaminaverunt testamentum ejus:

Original

Hebrew
English
My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.

Notes

Psalms 55:19–21

God is good and faithful, but the psalmist’s enemies and so-called friend are deceitful and wicked.

Psalms 55:12–20

The psalmist's enemy used to be a friend. Remembering their close relationship causes him pain (see Psalm 31:11).

Psalms 55:1–23

The psalmist faces enemies led by a former friend (Psalm 55:12–14). This causes him great distress. He prays to the Lord and trusts him for justice (Psalm 55:22–23).

Jesus went through similar pain when Judas, his friend, betrayed him. He also experienced the psalmist’s prayer being answered:

  1. by taking the place of the wicked and receiving their punishment (Isaiah 53:7–9), and

  2. by trusting the Father, who saved (Luke 23:46) and rewarded him (Isaiah 53:10–12).

Psalms 51:1–65:13

These psalms of David share a common theme. They reflect on the experience of evil. In Psalm 51, the psalmist admits his wrongdoing and asks for God's forgiveness. Psalms 52–64 express sorrow over specific evils David faced. A song of praise (Psalm 65) brings David's laments to an end.

Theme notes and profiles

David

Parallels

2 Samuel 17:15–29

Glossary

David Imprecatory Psalms Music Neginah, Neginoth Psalms, Book of

Topics

Friends: False Friends: David's Friends Were False to David Hypocrisy: General Scriptures Concerning