Psalm 55:9

Translations

Modern

O Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city.

Traditional

Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

Literal

Swallow up, O Lord, divide their tongues! For I have seen violence and strife in the city.

Latin

Præcipita, Domine; divide linguas eorum: quoniam vidi iniquitatem et contradictionem in civitate.

Original

Hebrew

English

O Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city.

Notes

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 6:7
As a well gushes its water, so she pours out her evil. Violence and destruction resound in her; sickness and wounds are ever before Me.
Genesis 11:7–9
Come, let Us go down and confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.”
2 Samuel 15:31
Now someone told David: “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David pleaded, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”
Acts 23:6–10
Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. It is because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”
Matthew 23:37–38
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!
John 7:45–53
Then the officers returned to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring Him in?”
2 Samuel 17:1–14
Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David.
Jeremiah 23:14
And among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: They commit adultery and walk in lies. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns his back on wickedness. They are all like Sodom to Me; the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.”

Parallels

2 Samuel 17:15–29

People

LORD: Names or title used to refer to God

Glossary

David Imprecatory Psalms Music Neginah, Neginoth Psalms, Book of

Topics

Afflictions and Adversities: Prayer In Prayer: Imprecatory Strife: General Scriptures Concerning Strife: Punishment For

Psalm 55:9

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Related verses?

Parallels?