Psalm 55

This article is about Psalm 55 in Hebrew (Masoretic) numbering. For Psalm 55 in Greek Septuagint or Latin Vulgate numbering, see Psalm 56.

Psalm 55
"Give ear to my prayer, O God"
Beginning of a setting by Dvořák in German and Czech
Other name
  • Psalm 54 (Vulgate)
  • "Exaudi Deus orationem meam"
LanguageHebrew (original)

Psalm 55 is the 55th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version, "Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not thyself from my supplication". The Book of Psalms forms part of the ketuvim, the third section of the Hebrew Bible, and is part of the Christian Old Testament. In the slightly different numbering system of the Greek Septuagint version of the Bible, and in the Latin Vulgate, this psalm is Psalm 54. In Latin, it is known as "Exaudi Deus orationem meam".[1] The psalm is a lament in which the author grieves because he is surrounded by enemies, and one of his closest friends has betrayed him.

The psalm forms a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and other Protestant liturgies. Metrical hymns in English and German were derived from the psalm, and it has been set to music.

Background

Psalm 55 is similar to Psalm 41,[2] especially 41:9: "Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me" (ESV).[3]

The introduction to the psalm identifies it as a 'Maskil' (instructional piece) and associates it with David.[4] The anonymous author may have been an Israelite living in a foreign city, and the false friend could be another Israelite living there. This interpretation may be considered especially plausible if the second part of verse 24 is translated "men of idols and figurines", as suggested by Hermann Gunkel and used in Mitchell Dahood's translation, rather than "men of blood and treachery".[5]

Jerome, in the Vulgate, entitled this psalm Vox Christi adversus magnatos Judaeorum et Judam traditorem, meaning The voice of Christ against the chiefs of the Jews and the traitor Judas.[6]

Text

Hebrew

The following table shows the Hebrew text[7][8] of the Psalm with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).

Verse Hebrew English translation (JPS 1917)
1 לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ בִּנְגִינֹ֗ת מַשְׂכִּ֥יל לְדָוִֽד׃‎ For the Leader; with string-music. Maschil of David.
2 הַאֲזִ֣ינָה אֱ֭לֹהִים תְּפִלָּתִ֑י וְאַל־תִּ֝תְעַלַּ֗ם מִתְּחִנָּתִֽי׃‎ Give ear, O God, to my prayer; And hide not Thyself from my supplication.
3 הַקְשִׁ֣יבָה לִּ֣י וַעֲנֵ֑נִי אָרִ֖יד בְּשִׂיחִ֣י וְאָהִֽימָה׃‎ Attend unto me, and hear me; I am distraught in my complaint, and will moan;
4 מִקּ֤וֹל אוֹיֵ֗ב מִ֭פְּנֵי עָקַ֣ת רָשָׁ֑ע כִּֽי־יָמִ֥יטוּ עָלַ֥י אָ֝֗וֶן וּבְאַ֥ף יִשְׂטְמֽוּנִי׃‎ Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked; For they cast mischief upon me, and in anger they persecute me.
5 לִ֭בִּי יָחִ֣יל בְּקִרְבִּ֑י וְאֵימ֥וֹת מָ֝֗וֶת נָפְל֥וּ עָלָֽי׃‎ My heart doth writhe within me; and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
6 יִרְאָ֣ה וָ֭רַעַד יָ֣בֹא בִ֑י וַ֝תְּכַסֵּ֗נִי פַּלָּצֽוּת׃‎ Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
7 וָאֹמַ֗ר מִֽי־יִתֶּן־לִ֣י אֵ֭בֶר כַּיּוֹנָ֗ה אָע֥וּפָה וְאֶשְׁכֹּֽנָה׃‎ And I said: 'Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then would I fly away, and be at rest.
8 הִ֭נֵּה אַרְחִ֣יק נְדֹ֑ד אָלִ֖ין בַּמִּדְבָּ֣ר סֶֽלָה׃‎ Lo, then would I wander far off, I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah
9 אָחִ֣ישָׁה מִפְלָ֣ט לִ֑י מֵר֖וּחַ סֹעָ֣ה מִסָּֽעַר׃‎ I would haste me to a shelter from the stormy wind and tempest.'
10 בַּלַּ֣ע אֲ֭דֹנָי פַּלַּ֣ג לְשׁוֹנָ֑ם כִּֽי־רָאִ֨יתִי חָמָ֖ס וְרִ֣יב בָּעִֽיר׃‎ Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongue; For I have seen violence and strife in the city.
11 יוֹמָ֤ם וָלַ֗יְלָה יְסוֹבְבֻ֥הָ עַל־חוֹמֹתֶ֑יהָ וְאָ֖וֶן וְעָמָ֣ל בְּקִרְבָּֽהּ׃‎ Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof; iniquity also and mischief are in the midst of it.
12 הַוּ֥וֹת בְּקִרְבָּ֑הּ וְֽלֹא־יָמִ֥ישׁ מֵ֝רְחֹבָ֗הּ תֹּ֣ךְ וּמִרְמָֽה׃‎ Wickedness is in the midst thereof; oppression and guile depart not from her broad place.
13 כִּ֤י לֹֽא־אוֹיֵ֥ב יְחָֽרְפֵ֗נִי וְאֶ֫שָּׂ֥א לֹא־מְ֭שַׂנְאִי עָלַ֣י הִגְדִּ֑יל וְאֶסָּתֵ֥ר מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃‎ For it was not an enemy that taunted me, Then I could have borne it; Neither was it mine adversary that did magnify himself against me, Then I would have hid myself from him.
14 וְאַתָּ֣ה אֱנ֣וֹשׁ כְּעֶרְכִּ֑י אַ֝לּוּפִ֗י וּמְיֻדָּעִֽי׃‎ But it was thou, a man mine equal, My companion, and my familiar friend;
15 אֲשֶׁ֣ר יַ֭חְדָּו נַמְתִּ֣יק ס֑וֹד בְּבֵ֥ית אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים נְהַלֵּ֥ךְ בְּרָֽגֶשׁ׃‎ We took sweet counsel together, In the house of God we walked with the throng.
16 (ישימות) [יַשִּׁ֤י מָ֨וֶת ׀] עָלֵ֗ימוֹ יֵרְד֣וּ שְׁא֣וֹל חַיִּ֑ים כִּֽי־רָע֖וֹת בִּמְגוּרָ֣ם בְּקִרְבָּֽם׃‎ May He incite death against them, Let them go down alive into the nether-world; For evil is in their dwelling, and within them.
17 אֲ֭נִי אֶל־אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֶקְרָ֑א וַ֝יהֹוָ֗ה יוֹשִׁיעֵֽנִי׃‎ As for me, I will call upon God; And the LORD shall save me.
18 עֶ֤רֶב וָבֹ֣קֶר וְ֭צׇהֳרַיִם אָשִׂ֣יחָה וְאֶֽהֱמֶ֑ה וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע קוֹלִֽי׃‎ Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I complain, and moan; And He hath heard my voice.
19 פָּ֘דָ֤ה בְשָׁל֣וֹם נַ֭פְשִׁי מִקְּרׇב־לִ֑י כִּֽי־בְ֝רַבִּ֗ים הָי֥וּ עִמָּדִֽי׃‎ He hath redeemed my soul in peace so that none came nigh me; For they were many that strove with me.
20 יִשְׁמַ֤ע ׀ אֵ֨ל ׀ וְֽיַעֲנֵם֮ וְיֹ֤שֵׁ֥ב קֶ֗דֶם סֶ֥֫לָה אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֵ֣ין חֲלִיפ֣וֹת לָ֑מוֹ וְלֹ֖א יָרְא֣וּ אֱלֹהִֽים׃‎ God shall hear, and humble them, even He that is enthroned of old, Selah, such as have no changes, and fear not God.
21 שָׁלַ֣ח יָ֭דָיו בִּשְׁלֹמָ֗יו חִלֵּ֥ל בְּרִיתֽוֹ׃‎ He hath put forth his hands against them that were at peace with him; He hath profaned his covenant.
22 חָלְק֤וּ ׀ מַחְמָאֹ֣ת פִּיו֮ וּֽקְרָב־לִ֫בּ֥וֹ רַכּ֖וּ דְבָרָ֥יו מִשֶּׁ֗מֶן וְהֵ֣מָּה פְתִחֽוֹת׃‎ Smoother than cream were the speeches of his mouth, But his heart was war; His words were softer than oil, Yet were they keen-edged swords.
23 הַשְׁלֵ֤ךְ עַל־יְהֹוָ֨ה ׀ יְהָבְךָ֮ וְה֢וּא יְכַ֫לְכְּלֶ֥ךָ לֹא־יִתֵּ֖ן לְעוֹלָ֥ם מ֗וֹט לַצַּדִּֽיק׃‎ Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He will sustain thee; He will never suffer the righteous to be moved.
24 וְאַתָּ֤ה אֱלֹהִ֨ים ׀ תּוֹרִדֵ֬ם ׀ לִבְאֵ֬ר שַׁ֗חַת אַנְשֵׁ֤י דָמִ֣ים וּ֭מִרְמָה לֹא־יֶחֱצ֣וּ יְמֵיהֶ֑ם וַ֝אֲנִ֗י אֶבְטַח־בָּֽךְ׃‎ But Thou, O God, wilt bring them down into the nethermost pit; Men of blood and deceit shall not live out half their days; But as for me, I will trust in Thee.

King James Version

  1. Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.
  2. Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;
  3. Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.
  4. My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
  5. Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
  6. And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.
  7. Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.
  8. I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.
  9. Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
  10. Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.
  11. Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
  12. For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:
  13. But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.
  14. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.
  15. Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.
  16. As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.
  17. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
  18. He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.
  19. God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.
  20. He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.
  21. 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.
  22. Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
  23. But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.

Structure

The psalm can be divided into three sections, which Alexander Kirkpatrick in his 1901 commentary identified with the themes of despair, indignation, and trust:[6]

  1. The first section (vss. 1–8) begins with a desperate appeal to God for deliverance (vss. 1–3) and then launches into a description of the psalmist's anguish and his desire for peace.[9]
  2. Verses 9–15 are a strident denunciation of the author's enemies, especially an individual described as "my equal" and "my familiar friend" who has turned against the psalmist (vss. 12–14).[10] This second section closes with a wish that the speaker's enemies be swallowed alive in Sheol, a possible allusion to the fate of Korah.[11]
  3. The final section (vss. 16–23) is a confident meditation on God's justice. The psalmist is sure that God will save him and destroy the wicked.[3]

Analysis

It is unclear whether the psalm was written by a single author or not.[12] Some scholars suggest that verses 12–14, 20–21, and 22 are fragments by a different author which were inserted into the text of the original psalm.[13]

In a 1999 article, Ulrike Bail used intertextual interpretive methods to read the psalm as a reference to the rape of Tamar.[14]

Uses

Judaism

New Testament

Verse 22 is quoted in 1 Peter 5:7.[18]

Book of Common Prayer

In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, this psalm is appointed to be read on the evening of the tenth day of the month.[19]

Musical settings

Heinrich Schütz set Psalm 55 in a metred version in German, "Erhör mein Gebet, du treuer Gott", SWV 152, as part of the Becker Psalter, first published in 1628. The text was set to music as Hear My Prayer by Felix Mendelssohn in 1844.[20] Antonín Dvořák set verses 1–8 in Czech to music in his Biblical Songs (1894). Zoltán Kodály set Psalm 55 in Hungarian in 1923 with interpolations and extensions of grief and lamentation full of historic associations for the Hungarian people to the paraphrase by 16th-century poet Mihály Vég [hu], as the Psalmus Hungaricus, Op. 13. Alan Hovhaness set portions of the text, along with portions of Psalms 54 and 56, in his choral work Make a Joyful Noise.[21]

Notes

  1. ^ Parallel Latin/English Psalter / Psalmus 54 (55) Archived 10 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine medievalist.net
  2. ^ Kirkpatrick 1901, p. 307.
  3. ^ a b Rhodes 1960, p. 91.
  4. ^ Limburg 2000, p. 182-183.
  5. ^ Dahood 1966, pp. 30, 39.
  6. ^ a b Kirkpatrick 1901, p. 308.
  7. ^ "Psalms – Chapter 55". Mechon Mamre.
  8. ^ "Psalms 55 - JPS 1917". Sefaria.org.
  9. ^ Rhodes 1960, pp. 90–91.
  10. ^ Kirkpatrick 1901, pp. 311–312.
  11. ^ Kirkpatrick 1901, p. 312.
  12. ^ Rhodes 1960, p. 90.
  13. ^ Kraus 1993, p. 519.
  14. ^ Bail 1999, pp. 5–18.
  15. ^ Scherman & Zlotowitz 1986, p. 583.
  16. ^ Scherman & Zlotowitz 1986, p. 605.
  17. ^ Scherman & Zlotowitz 1986, p. 579.
  18. ^ Kirkpatrick 1901.
  19. ^ Church of England, Book of Common Prayer: The Psalter as printed by John Baskerville in 1762, pp. 196ff
  20. ^ Human 1997, pp. 267–279.
  21. ^ "Alan Hovhaness List of Works by Opus Number". www.hovhaness.com. Retrieved 30 October 2022.

Bibliography

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