Psalm 55:21

Translations

Modern

His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed.

Traditional

The 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.

Literal

His mouth has been smoother than butter, and war is in his heart; his words have been softer than oil, and they are drawn swords.

Latin

…divisi sunt ab ira vultus ejus, et appropinquavit cor illius. Molliti sunt sermones ejus super oleum; et ipsi sunt jacula.

Original

Hebrew

English

His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed.

Notes

Psalms 55:19–21

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

Psalms 55:1–23

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:

by taking the place of the wicked and receiving their punishment (Isaiah 53:7–9), and
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 The Heart in the Psalms

Related verses

Psalm 57:4
My soul is among the lions; I lie down with ravenous beasts—with men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.
Proverbs 26:28
A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
Proverbs 5:3–4
Though the lips of the forbidden woman drip honey and her speech is smoother than oil,
Psalm 28:3
Do not drag me away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, who speak peace to their neighbors while malice is in their hearts.
Proverbs 26:24–26
A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
Psalm 64:3
…who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows,
Luke 20:20–21
So they watched Him closely and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. They were hoping to catch Him in His words in order to hand Him over to the rule and authority of the governor.
Psalm 12:2
They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and a double heart.
Matthew 26:25
Then Judas, who would betray Him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said it yourself.”
Proverbs 12:18
Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Psalm 62:4
They fully intend to cast him down from his lofty perch; they delight in lies; with their mouths they bless, but inwardly they curse. Selah
John 13:2
The evening meal was underway, and the devil had already put into the heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.

Psalm 55:21

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