Christian Standard Bible
Psalms 55:15
15Let death take them by surprise; let them go down to Sheol alive, because evil is in their homes and within them.
Psalms 55:15 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.
- New International Version (NIV)Let death take my enemies by surprise; let them go down alive to the realm of the dead, for evil finds lodging among them.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Let death steal over them; let them go down to Sheol alive; for evil is in their dwelling place and in their heart.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Let death seize them; Let them go down alive into hell, For wickedness is in their dwellings and among them.
Context of Psalms 55:15
13But it is you, a man who is my peer, my companion and good friend! 14We used to have close fellowship; we walked with the crowd into the house of God. Let death take them by surprise; let them go down to Sheol alive, because evil is in their homes and within them. 16But I call to God, and the Lord will save me. 17I complain and groan morning, noon, and night, and he hears my voice.
Read all of Psalms 55Psalms 55:15 word by word
יַשִּׁ֤י מָ֨וֶת׀ עָלֵ֗ימוֹ יֵרְד֣וּ שְׁא֣וֹל חַיִּ֑ים כִּֽי־רָע֖וֹת בִּמְגוּרָ֣ם בְּקִרְבָּֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Let deathמָ֫וֶתmâveth · deathH4194
- seizeיְשִׁימָהyeshîymâh · desolationH3451
- seizeנָשָׁאnâshâ' · to deceiveH5377
- let them go downיָרַדyârad · to go downH3381
- quickחַיchay · aliveH2416
- into hellשְׁאוֹלshe'ôl she'ôl · hell: SheolH7585
- for wickednessרַעra‛ râ‛âh · bad: evilH7451
- in their dwellingsמָגוֹרmâgûr mâgûr · sojourningH4033
- amongקֶ֫רֶבqereb · entrails: inner partsH7130
Cross-references for Psalms 55:15
- Psalms 59:13Consume them in fury; consume them until they are gone. Then people will know throughout the earth that God rules over Jacob.Selah
- Psalms 69:22Let their table set before them be a snare, and let it be a trap for their allies.
- Psalms 109:6Set a wicked person over him; let an accuser stand at his right hand.
- 2 Samuel 17:23When Ahithophel realized that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He set his house in order and hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.
- 2 Samuel 18:9Absalom was riding on his mule when he happened to meet David’s soldiers. When the mule went under the tangled branches of a large oak tree, Absalom’s head was caught fast in the tree. The mule under him kept going, so he was suspended in midair.
- Matthew 27:5So he threw the silver into the temple and departed. Then he went and hanged himself.
- Acts 1:18Now this man acquired a field with his unrighteous wages. He fell headfirst, his body burst open and his intestines spilled out.
- Numbers 16:30But if the Lord brings about something unprecedented, and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them along with all that belongs to them so that they go down alive into Sheol, then you will know that these men have despised the Lord.”
- Matthew 26:24The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for him if he had not been born.”
- Acts 1:25to take the place in this apostolic ministry that Judas left to go where he belongs.”
- Psalms 9:17The wicked will return to Sheol — all the nations that forget God.
Commentaries on Psalms 55:15
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15Let death seize upon them - This is a prediction of the sudden destruction which should fall on the ringleaders in this rebellion. And it was so. Ahithophel, seeing his counsel rejected, hanged himself. Absalom was defeated; and, fleeing away, he was suspended by the hair in a tree, under which his mule had passed; and being found thus by Joab, he was despatched with three darts; and the people who espoused his interests were almost all cut off. They fell…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15Let death seize upon them - This would be more correctly rendered, “Desolations (are) upon them!” That is, Desolation, or destruction will certainly come upon them. There is in the original no necessary expression of a wish or prayer that this might be, but it is rather the language of certain assurance - the expression of a fact - that such base conduct - such wickedness - would make their destruction certain; that as God is just, they must be…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. 12-20The psalmist's enemy used to be a friend. Remembering their close relationship causes him pain (see Psalm 31:11).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. Let death, &c.--or, "Desolations are on them." let them go--literally, "they will go." quick--or, living in the midst of life, death will come (compare Nu 16:33). among them--or, "within them," in their hearts (Psa 5:9; 49:11).Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 55:15
In the dictionaries
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
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