Psalms 55:17-23

55:17 During the evening, morning, and noontime

I will lament and moan, ¹ 

and he will hear ²  me. ³ 

55:18 He will rescue ⁴  me and protect me from those who attack me, ⁵ 

even though ⁶  they greatly outnumber me. ⁷ 

55:19 God, the one who has reigned as king from long ago,

will hear and humiliate them. ⁸  (Selah)

They refuse to change,

and do not fear God. ⁹ 

55:20 He ¹⁰  attacks ¹¹  his friends; ¹² 

he breaks his solemn promises to them. ¹³ 

55:21 His words are as smooth as butter, ¹⁴ 

but he harbors animosity in his heart. ¹⁵ 

His words seem softer than oil,

but they are really like sharp swords. ¹⁶ 

55:22 Throw your burden ¹⁷  upon the Lord,

and he will sustain you. ¹⁸ 

He will never allow the godly to be upended. ¹⁹ 

55:23 But you, O God, will bring them ²⁰  down to the deep Pit. ²¹ 

Violent and deceitful people ²²  will not live even half a normal lifespan. ²³ 

But as for me, I trust in you.

[55:17]  ¹ tn The first verb is clearly a cohortative form, expressing the psalmist’s resolve. The second verb, while formally ambiguous, should also be understood as cohortative here.

[55:17]  ² tn The prefixed verb with vav (ו) consecutive normally appears in narrational contexts to indicate past action, but here it continues the anticipatory (future) perspective of the preceding line. In Ps 77:6 one finds the same sequence of cohortative + prefixed verbal form with vav (ו) consecutive. In this case as well, both forms refer to future actions.

[55:17]  ³ tn Heb “my voice.”

[55:18]  ⁴ tn The perfect verbal form is here used rhetorically to indicate that the action is certain to take place (the so-called perfect of certitude).

[55:18]  ⁵ tn Heb “he will redeem in peace my life from [those who] draw near to me.”

[55:18]  ⁶ tn Or “for.”

[55:18]  ⁷ tn Heb “among many they are against me.” For other examples of the preposition עִמָּד (’immad) used in the sense of “at, against,” see HALOT 842 s.v.; BDB 767 s.v.; IBHS 219 §11.2.14b.

[55:19]  ⁸ tc Heb “God will hear and answer them, even [the] one who sits [from] ancient times.” The prefixed verbal from with vav (ו) consecutive carries on the anticipatory force of the preceding imperfect. The verb appears to be a Qal form from עָנָה (’anah, “to answer”). If this reading is retained, the point would be that God “answered” them in judgment. The translation assumes an emendation to the Piel וַיְעַנֵּם (vay’annem; see 2 Kgs 17:20) and understands the root as עָנָה (’anah, “to afflict”; see also 1 Kgs 8:35).

[55:19]  ⁹ tn Heb “[the ones] for whom there are no changes, and they do not fear God.”

[55:20]  ¹⁰ sn He. This must refer to the psalmist’s former friend, who was addressed previously in vv. 12-14.

[55:20]  ¹¹ tn Heb “stretches out his hand against.”

[55:20]  ¹² tc The form should probably be emended to an active participle (שֹׁלְמָיו, sholÿmayv) from the verbal root שָׁלַם (shalam, “be in a covenant of peace with”). Perhaps the translation “his friends” suggests too intimate a relationship. Another option is to translate, “he attacks those who made agreements with him.”

[55:20]  ¹³ tn Heb “he violates his covenant.”

[55:21]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “the butter-like [words] of his mouth are smooth.” The noun מַחְמָאֹת (makhma’ot, “butter-like [words]”) occurs only here. Many prefer to emend the form to מֵחֶמְאָה (mekhem’ah, from [i.e., “than”] butter”), cf. NEB, NRSV “smoother than butter.” However, in this case “his mouth” does not agree in number with the plural verb חָלְקוּ (kholqu, “they are smooth”). Therefore some further propose an emendation of פִּיו (piv, “his mouth”) to פָּנָיו (panayv, “his face”). In any case, the point seems to that the psalmist’s former friend spoke kindly to him and gave the outward indications of friendship.

[55:21]  ¹⁵ tn Heb “and war [is in] his heart.”

[55:21]  ¹⁶ tn Heb “his words are softer than oil, but they are drawn swords.”

[55:22]  ¹⁷ tn The Hebrew noun occurs only here.

[55:22]  ¹⁸ tn The pronoun is singular; the psalmist addresses each member of his audience individually.

[55:22]  ¹⁹ tn Heb “he will never allow swaying for the righteous.”

[55:23]  ²⁰ tn The pronominal suffix refers to the psalmist’s enemies (see v. 19).

[55:23]  ²¹ tn Heb “well of the pit.” The Hebrew term שַׁחַת (shakhat, “pit”) is often used as a title for Sheol (see Pss 16:10; 30:9; 49:9; 103:4).

[55:23]  ²² tn Heb “men of bloodshed and deceit.”

[55:23]  ²³ tn Heb “will not divide in half their days.”