Psalms 55:9

Psalms 55:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
• New International Version (NIV)Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words, for I see violence and strife in the city.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Destroy, O Lord, divide their tongues; for I see violence and strife in the city.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues, For I have seen violence and strife in the city.

Context of Psalms 55:9

7I would wander far away, I would lodge in the [peace of the] wilderness. Selah. 8I would hurry to my refuge [my tranquil shelter far away] From the stormy wind and from the tempest.” Confuse [my enemies], O Lord, divide their tongues [destroying their schemes], For I have seen violence and strife in the city. 10Day and night they go around her walls; Wickedness and mischief are in her midst. 11Destruction is within her; Oppression and deceit do not depart from her streets and market places.

Psalms 55:9 word by word

בַּלַּ֣ע אֲ֭דֹנָי פַּלַּ֣ג לְשׁוֹנָ֑ם כִּֽי־רָאִ֨יתִי חָמָ֖ס וְרִ֣יב בָּעִֽיר׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Destroyבָּלַעbâla‛ · to swallow upH1104
• O Lordאֲדֹנָי'ădônây · LordH136
• divideפָּלַגpâlag · to divideH6385
• their tonguesלָשׁוֹןlâshôn lâshôn leshônâh · tongue: languageH3956
• for I have seenרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• violenceחָמָסchâmâs · violenceH2555
• and strifeרִיבrîyb rib · strifeH7379
• in the cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892

Cross-references for Psalms 55:9

• Genesis 11:7Come, let Us (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) go down and there confuse and mix up their language, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.”
• 2 Samuel 15:31David was told, “Ahithophel [your counselor] is among the conspirators with Absalom.” David said, “O Lord, I pray You, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.”
• 2 Samuel 17:1Then, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Please let me choose 12,000 men, and I will set out and pursue David tonight.
• John 7:45Then the guards went [back] to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not bring Him [here with you]?”
• Acts 23:6But recognizing that one group were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, Paul began affirming loudly in the Council chamber, “Kinsmen, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!”
• Jeremiah 6:7As a fountain springs up and pours out its fresh waters, So she [continually] pours out her fresh wickedness. Violence and destruction are heard inside her [walls]; Sickness and wounds are always before Me.
• Jeremiah 23:14Also I have seen a horrible thing in the prophets of Jerusalem: They commit adultery and walk in lies; They encourage and strengthen the hands of evildoers, So that no one has turned back from his wickedness. All of them have become like Sodom to Me, And her inhabitants like Gomorrah.
• Matthew 23:37“ O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who murders the prophets and stones [to death] those [messengers] who are sent to her [by God]! How often I wanted to gather your children together [around Me], as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.

Commentaries on Psalms 55:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Destroy, O lord - Swallow them up - confound them. Divide their tongues - Let his counsellors give opposite advice. Let them never agree, and let their devices be confounded. And the prayer was heard. Hushai and Ahithophel gave opposite counsel. Absalom followed that of Hushai; and Ahithophel, knowing that the steps advised by Hushai would bring Absalom's affairs to ruin, went and hanged himself. See 2 Samuel 15, 16, and 17. Violence and strife in the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9Destroy, O Lord - The word rendered “destroy,” properly means to “swallow up;” to “devour” with the idea of greediness. Isaiah 28:4; Exodus 7:12; Jonah 1:17; Jeremiah 51:34. Then it is used in the sense of “destroy,” Job 20:18; Proverbs 1:12. The reference here is to the persons who had conspired against David. It is a prayer that they, and their counsels, might be destroyed: such a prayer as people always offer who pray for victory in battle. It is a…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-15Verses 9-15 No wickedness so distresses the believer, as that which he witnesses in those who profess to be of the church of God. Let us not be surprised at the corruptions and disorders of the church on earth, but long to see the New Jerusalem. He complains of one that had been very industrious against him. God often destroys the enemies of the church by dividing them. And an interest divided against itself cannot long stand. The true Christian must…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-23The 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…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. Destroy--literally, "swallow" (Psa 21:9). divide their tongues--or, "confound their speech," and hence their counsels (Ge 11:7). the city--perhaps Jerusalem, the scene of anarchy.Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 55:9

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Prayer
• Strife

In the dictionaries

• Counsel
• Equal
• Escape
• Hasted
• Neginoth
• Psalms
• Psalms, Book of
• Tongue
• Maschil
• strife, disputes, quarrel, arguing, conflict

Commentaries on Psalms 55

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• The Treasury of David
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings