Psalm 55:7

Translations

Modern

How far away I would flee! In the wilderness I would remain. Selah

Traditional

Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.

Literal

…behold, I would go far off wandering and would lodge in the wilderness. Selah

Latin

Ecce elongavi fugiens, et mansi in solitudine.

Original

Hebrew

English

How far away I would flee! In the wilderness I would remain. Selah

Notes

Psalms 55:4–8

In the experience of deep anguish, the psalmist confesses that his adversity has become unbearable and he seeks an escape.

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

Related verses

Jeremiah 9:2
If only I had a traveler’s lodge in the wilderness, I would abandon my people and depart from them, for they are all adulterers, a crowd of faithless people.
2 Samuel 15:14
And David said to all the servants with him in Jerusalem, “Arise and let us flee, or we will not escape from Absalom! We must leave quickly, or he will soon overtake us, heap disaster on us, and put the city to the sword.”
Jeremiah 37:12
Jeremiah started to leave Jerusalem to go to the land of Benjamin to claim his portion there among the people.
2 Samuel 17:21–22
After the men had gone, Ahimaaz and Jonathan climbed up out of the well and went to inform King David, saying, “Get up and cross over the river at once, for Ahithophel has given this advice against you.”
Proverbs 6:4–5
Allow no sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids.
1 Samuel 27:1
David, however, said to himself, “One of these days now I will be swept away by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will stop searching for me all over Israel, and I will slip out of his hand.”

Parallels

2 Samuel 17:15–29

People

Selah: A musical or liturgical term of uncertain meaning

Glossary

David Imprecatory Psalms Music Neginah, Neginoth Psalms, Book of

Topics

Afflictions and Adversities: Prayer In Afflictions and Adversities: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To

Psalm 55:7

Translations?

Original?

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Related verses?

Parallels?