Psalms 55:20-23

55:20 He ¹  attacks ²  his friends; ³ 

he breaks his solemn promises to them. ⁴ 

55:21 His words are as smooth as butter, ⁵ 

but he harbors animosity in his heart. ⁶ 

His words seem softer than oil,

but they are really like sharp swords. ⁷ 

55:22 Throw your burden ⁸  upon the Lord,

and he will sustain you. ⁹ 

He will never allow the godly to be upended. ¹⁰ 

55:23 But you, O God, will bring them ¹¹  down to the deep Pit. ¹² 

Violent and deceitful people ¹³  will not live even half a normal lifespan. ¹⁴ 

But as for me, I trust in you.

[55:20]  ¹ sn He. This must refer to the psalmist’s former friend, who was addressed previously in vv. 12-14.

[55:20]  ² tn Heb “stretches out his hand against.”

[55:20]  ³ 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]  ⁴ tn Heb “he violates his covenant.”

[55:21]  ⁵ 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]  ⁶ tn Heb “and war [is in] his heart.”

[55:21]  ⁷ tn Heb “his words are softer than oil, but they are drawn swords.”

[55:22]  ⁸ tn The Hebrew noun occurs only here.

[55:22]  ⁹ tn The pronoun is singular; the psalmist addresses each member of his audience individually.

[55:22]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “he will never allow swaying for the righteous.”

[55:23]  ¹¹ tn The pronominal suffix refers to the psalmist’s enemies (see v. 19).

[55:23]  ¹² 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]  ¹³ tn Heb “men of bloodshed and deceit.”

[55:23]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “will not divide in half their days.”