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for I see violence and strife in the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/psalms/55.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />O Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/psalms/55.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Destroy, O Lord, <i>and</i> divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/psalms/55.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Destroy, O Lord, <i>and</i> divide their tongues, For I have seen violence and strife in the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/psalms/55.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Confuse them, Lord, divide their tongues, For I have seen violence and strife in the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/psalms/55.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Confuse, O Lord, divide their tongues, For I have seen violence and strife in the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/psalms/55.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Confuse, O Lord, divide their tongues, For I have seen violence and strife in the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/psalms/55.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Confuse, O Lord, divide their tongues, For I have seen violence and strife in the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/psalms/55.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Confuse [my enemies], O Lord, divide their tongues [destroying their schemes], For I have seen violence and strife in the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/psalms/55.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/psalms/55.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city; <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/psalms/55.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongue; For I have seen violence and strife in the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/psalms/55.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Confuse my enemies, Lord! Upset their plans. Cruelty and violence are all I see in the city, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/psalms/55.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongue: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/psalms/55.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Completely confuse their language, O Lord, because I see violence and conflict in the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/psalms/55.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Confuse the speech of my enemies, O Lord! I see violence and riots in the city, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/psalms/55.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Confound them, Lord, and confuse their speech, because I have seen violence and strife in the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/psalms/55.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />O Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/psalms/55.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Confuse them, O Lord! Frustrate their plans! For I see violence and conflict in the city. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/psalms/55.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Confuse them, Lord, and confound their language, for I have seen violence and strife in the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/psalms/55.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/psalms/55.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Confuse them, Lord, and confound their language, for I have seen violence and strife in the city. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/psalms/55.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Swallow up, O Lord, divide their tongue, "" For I saw violence and strife in a city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/psalms/55.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Swallow up, O Lord, divide their tongue, For I saw violence and strife in a city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/psalms/55.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Swallow up, O Jehovah, divide their tongue: for I saw violence and strife in the city.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/psalms/55.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Cast down, O Lord, and divide their tongues; for I have seen iniquity and contradiction in the city. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/psalms/55.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br /><V 54:10>Cast them down, O Lord, and divide their tongues. For I have seen iniquity and contradiction in the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/psalms/55.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Lord, check and confuse their tongues. For I see violence and strife in the city <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/psalms/55.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Confuse, O Lord, confound their speech; for I see violence and strife in the city.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/psalms/55.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Destroy, O LORD, and render useless their tongues; for I have seen violence and strife in the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/psalms/55.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />LORD JEHOVAH, drown the conversation of their tongues, for I have seen fighting and judgment in the city.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/psalms/55.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongue; For I have seen violence and strife in the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/psalms/55.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen iniquity and gain saying in the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/psalms/55-9.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nFaD2oDhKPc?start=6467" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/psalms/55.htm">Cast Your Burden upon the LORD</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">8</span>I would hurry to my shelter, far from this raging tempest.” <span class="reftext">9</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/136.htm" title="136: ’ă·ḏō·nāy (N-proper-ms) -- Lord. Am emphatic form of 'adown; the Lord.">O Lord,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1104.htm" title="1104: bal·la‘ (V-Piel-Imp-ms) -- To swallow down, swallow up, engulf. A primitive root; to make away with; generally, to destroy.">confuse</a> <a href="/hebrew/6385.htm" title="6385: pal·laḡ (V-Piel-Imp-ms) -- To split, divide. A primitive root; to split.">and confound</a> <a href="/hebrew/3956.htm" title="3956: lə·šō·w·nām (N-csc:: 3mp) -- Tongue. Or lashon; also feminine lshonah; from lashan; the tongue, used literally, and figuratively.">their speech,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî- (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">for</a> <a href="/hebrew/7200.htm" title="7200: rā·’î·ṯî (V-Qal-Perf-1cs) -- To see. A primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively.">I see</a> <a href="/hebrew/2555.htm" title="2555: ḥā·mās (N-ms) -- Violence, wrong. From chamac; violence; by implication, wrong; by meton. Unjust gain.">violence</a> <a href="/hebrew/7379.htm" title="7379: wə·rîḇ (Conj-w:: N-ms) -- Strife, dispute. Or rib; from riyb; a contest.">and strife</a> <a href="/hebrew/5892.htm" title="5892: bā·‘îr (Prep-b, Art:: N-fs) -- Excitement. Or par; or ayar; from uwr a city in the widest sense.">in the city.</a> </span><span class="reftext">10</span>Day and night they encircle the walls, while malice and trouble lie within.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/11-7.htm">Genesis 11:7-9</a></span><br />Come, let Us go down and confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.” / So the LORD scattered them from there over the face of all the earth, and they stopped building the city. / That is why it is called Babel, for there the LORD confused the language of the whole world, and from that place the LORD scattered them over the face of all the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/19-2.htm">Isaiah 19:2</a></span><br />“So I will incite Egyptian against Egyptian; brother will fight against brother, neighbor against neighbor, city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/6-7.htm">Jeremiah 6:7</a></span><br />As a well gushes its water, so she pours out her evil. Violence and destruction resound in her; sickness and wounds are ever before Me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/9-4.htm">Jeremiah 9:4-6</a></span><br />“Let everyone guard against his neighbor; do not trust any brother, for every brother deals craftily, and every friend spreads slander. / Each one betrays his friend; no one tells the truth. They have taught their tongues to lie; they wear themselves out committing iniquity. / You dwell in the midst of deception; in their deceit they refuse to know Me,” declares the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/22-25.htm">Ezekiel 22:25-28</a></span><br />The conspiracy of the princes in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing its prey. They devour the people, seize the treasures and precious things, and multiply the widows within her. / Her priests do violence to My law and profane My holy things. They make no distinction between the holy and the common, and they fail to distinguish between the clean and the unclean. They disregard My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. / Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey, shedding blood, and destroying lives for dishonest gain. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/micah/7-6.htm">Micah 7:6</a></span><br />For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies are the members of his own household.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/10-21.htm">Matthew 10:21</a></span><br />Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/24-10.htm">Matthew 24:10</a></span><br />At that time many will fall away and will betray and hate one another,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/13-12.htm">Mark 13:12</a></span><br />Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against their parents and have them put to death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/12-53.htm">Luke 12:53</a></span><br />They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/21-16.htm">Luke 21:16</a></span><br />You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/7-43.htm">John 7:43</a></span><br />So there was division in the crowd because of Jesus.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/9-16.htm">John 9:16</a></span><br />Because of this, some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for He does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a sinful man perform such signs?” And there was division among them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/14-4.htm">Acts 14:4</a></span><br />The people of the city were divided. Some sided with the Jews, and others with the apostles.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/23-7.htm">Acts 23:7-10</a></span><br />As soon as he had said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. / For the Sadducees say that there is neither a resurrection nor angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. / A great clamor arose, and some scribes from the party of the Pharisees got up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” ...</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.</p><p class="hdg">divide.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/11-7.htm">Genesis 11:7-9</a></b></br> Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_samuel/15-31.htm">2 Samuel 15:31</a></b></br> And <i>one</i> told David, saying, Ahithophel <i>is</i> among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_samuel/17-1.htm">2 Samuel 17:1-14</a></b></br> Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night: … </p><p class="hdg">I have</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/6-7.htm">Jeremiah 6:7</a></b></br> As a fountain casteth out her waters, so she casteth out her wickedness: violence and spoil is heard in her; before me continually <i>is</i> grief and wounds.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/23-14.htm">Jeremiah 23:14</a></b></br> I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/23-37.htm">Matthew 23:37,38</a></b></br> O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, <i>thou</i> that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under <i>her</i> wings, and ye would not! … </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/psalms/31-23.htm">Acts</a> <a href="/psalms/48-8.htm">City</a> <a href="/psalms/14-6.htm">Confound</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/7-23.htm">Confuse</a> <a href="/psalms/54-5.htm">Destroy</a> <a href="/psalms/52-4.htm">Destruction</a> <a href="/psalms/22-18.htm">Divide</a> <a href="/psalms/22-18.htm">Division</a> <a href="/job/38-23.htm">Fighting</a> <a href="/psalms/19-3.htm">Language</a> <a href="/psalms/36-4.htm">Plans</a> <a href="/psalms/19-3.htm">Speech</a> <a href="/psalms/31-20.htm">Strife</a> <a href="/psalms/21-9.htm">Swallow</a> <a href="/psalms/52-4.htm">Tongue</a> <a href="/psalms/31-20.htm">Tongues</a> <a href="/psalms/27-12.htm">Violence</a> <a href="/psalms/55-8.htm">Violent</a> <a href="/psalms/55-3.htm">Wicked</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/psalms/64-9.htm">Acts</a> <a href="/psalms/55-11.htm">City</a> <a href="/isaiah/19-3.htm">Confound</a> <a href="/psalms/144-6.htm">Confuse</a> <a href="/psalms/57-1.htm">Destroy</a> <a href="/psalms/55-11.htm">Destruction</a> <a href="/psalms/60-6.htm">Divide</a> <a href="/psalms/60-6.htm">Division</a> <a href="/psalms/56-1.htm">Fighting</a> <a href="/psalms/81-5.htm">Language</a> <a href="/psalms/64-5.htm">Plans</a> <a href="/psalms/55-21.htm">Speech</a> <a href="/psalms/80-6.htm">Strife</a> <a href="/psalms/56-1.htm">Swallow</a> <a href="/psalms/57-4.htm">Tongue</a> <a href="/psalms/57-4.htm">Tongues</a> <a href="/psalms/58-2.htm">Violence</a> <a href="/psalms/71-4.htm">Violent</a> <a href="/psalms/55-23.htm">Wicked</a><div class="vheading2">Psalm 55</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/55-1.htm">David in his prayer complains of his fearful case</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/55-9.htm">He prays against his enemies, of whose wickedness and treachery he complains</a></span><br><span class="reftext">16. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/55-16.htm">He comforts himself in God's preservation oh him, and confusion of his enemies</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/psalms/55.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/psalms/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/psalms/55.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>O Lord, confuse and confound their speech</b><br>This phrase echoes the biblical account of the Tower of Babel in <a href="/genesis/11-7.htm">Genesis 11:7</a>, where God confuses the language of the people to thwart their plans. The psalmist, David, is calling upon God to intervene in a similar manner against his enemies. This plea reflects a desire for divine justice and intervention, recognizing that God has the power to disrupt the plans of the wicked. The confusion of speech can also symbolize the breakdown of communication and unity among those who plot evil, leading to their eventual downfall. This request for divine intervention highlights the belief in God's sovereignty over human affairs and His ability to protect His people by disrupting the plans of their adversaries.<p><b>for I see violence and strife in the city</b><br>David is likely referring to Jerusalem, a city that holds significant historical and spiritual importance. During his reign, David faced numerous internal conflicts, including the rebellion led by his son Absalom (2 Samuel 15). The mention of violence and strife suggests a period of turmoil and unrest, possibly linked to betrayal and political intrigue. This reflects the broader theme of the psalms, where the righteous often find themselves surrounded by wickedness and seek God's deliverance. The city, as a center of religious and political life, becomes a microcosm of the larger spiritual battle between good and evil. This phrase also resonates with the prophetic vision of peace and righteousness that will ultimately prevail in the city of God, as seen in <a href="/isaiah/2-4.htm">Isaiah 2:4</a> and <a href="/revelation/21-2.htm">Revelation 21:2-4</a>.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/d/david.htm">David</a></b><br>The author of the psalm, who is expressing his distress and calling upon God for intervention against his enemies.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/e/enemies.htm">Enemies</a></b><br>The adversaries of David, who are causing violence and strife, likely within the city of Jerusalem.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a></b><br>The city where David observes violence and strife, representing a place of both physical and spiritual significance.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a></b><br>The one whom David calls upon to intervene and bring confusion to the plans of the wicked.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/v/violence_and_strife.htm">Violence and Strife</a></b><br>The conditions present in the city, which are the result of the actions of the wicked and are the focus of David's lament.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_prayer_in_times_of_distress.htm">The Power of Prayer in Times of Distress</a></b><br>David's immediate response to turmoil is to pray. We should also turn to God first when facing conflict.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_over_human_affairs.htm">God's Sovereignty Over Human Affairs</a></b><br>Just as God confused the languages at Babel, He has the power to disrupt the plans of the wicked today.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_reality_of_spiritual_warfare.htm">The Reality of Spiritual Warfare</a></b><br>The violence and strife in the city reflect the spiritual battles we face. We must be vigilant and prayerful.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_righteous_leadership.htm">The Importance of Righteous Leadership</a></b><br>David's lament highlights the need for godly leadership to prevent violence and strife in our communities.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/trusting_god_amidst_betrayal.htm">Trusting God Amidst Betrayal</a></b><br>David's experience teaches us to trust God even when we feel betrayed by those close to us.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_psalm_55.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Psalm 55</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/where's_proof_of_mass_confusion_by_god.htm">Psalm 55:9 calls on God to “confuse the wicked.” Where is the historical evidence of such a miraculous mass confusion? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/are_psalm_140_conflicts_validated.htm">Is there any archeological or historical data to validate the specific conflicts described in Psalm 140, or are these events unsubstantiated?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_is_god_silent_during_prayer.htm">Why does God seem silent when people pray?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_1_john_3_9_say_christians_never_sin.htm">What does 'God will not strive with man forever' mean?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/psalms/55.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(9) <span class= "bld">Destroy.</span>--Literally, <span class= "ital">swallow up. </span>So the LXX., forcibly, "drown in the sea." The object <span class= "ital">them </span>must be supplied.<p>This sudden change from plaintive sadness to violent invective is one of the marked features of this poem. Some think there has been a transposition of verses, but in lyric poetry these abrupt transitions of tone are not uncommon nor unpleasing.<p><span class= "bld">Divide their tongues</span>--<span class= "ital">i.e., </span>cause division in their councils. "Divide their voices" would be almost English, being exactly the opposite of Shakespeare's "a joint and corporate voice."<p><span class= "bld">For I have seen.</span>--With the sense, <span class= "ital">and see still.</span><p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/psalms/55.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 9-15.</span> - With a sudden transition, the writer passes from his own suffering, fears, and longings, to imprecations on his enemies, and a description of their wicked proceedings. In the course of his description he singles out one individual for special remark - one who had been his own guide, companion, and friend - but who had turned against him, and joined the company of his adversaries (vers. 12-14). <span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 9.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues</span>. The second clause contains a reference to the confusion of tongues at Babel (<a href="/genesis/11-7.htm">Genesis 11:7</a>). "Introduce confusion into their counsels, and disperse them, as thou didst with the wicked ones who were forced to leave off to build the Tower." <span class="cmt_word">For I have seen violence and strife in the city</span>. Such quarrels and broils, <span class="accented">i.e</span>., as usually precede revolutionary disturbance. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/psalms/55-9.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">O Lord,</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲ֭דֹנָי</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·ḏō·nāy)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_136.htm">Strong's 136: </a> </span><span class="str2">The Lord</span><br /><br /><span class="word">confuse</span><br /><span class="heb">בַּלַּ֣ע</span> <span class="translit">(bal·la‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1104.htm">Strong's 1104: </a> </span><span class="str2">To swallow down, swallow up, engulf</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and confound</span><br /><span class="heb">פַּלַּ֣ג</span> <span class="translit">(pal·laḡ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6385.htm">Strong's 6385: </a> </span><span class="str2">To split, divide</span><br /><br /><span class="word">their speech,</span><br /><span class="heb">לְשׁוֹנָ֑ם</span> <span class="translit">(lə·šō·w·nām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3956.htm">Strong's 3956: </a> </span><span class="str2">The tongue</span><br /><br /><span class="word">for</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּֽי־</span> <span class="translit">(kî-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">I see</span><br /><span class="heb">רָאִ֨יתִי</span> <span class="translit">(rā·’î·ṯî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7200.htm">Strong's 7200: </a> </span><span class="str2">To see</span><br /><br /><span class="word">violence</span><br /><span class="heb">חָמָ֖ס</span> <span class="translit">(ḥā·mās)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2555.htm">Strong's 2555: </a> </span><span class="str2">Violence, wrong, by meton, unjust gain</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and strife</span><br /><span class="heb">וְרִ֣יב</span> <span class="translit">(wə·rîḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7379.htm">Strong's 7379: </a> </span><span class="str2">Strife, dispute</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in the city.</span><br /><span class="heb">בָּעִֽיר׃</span> <span class="translit">(bā·‘îr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5892.htm">Strong's 5892: </a> </span><span class="str2">Excitement</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/psalms/55-9.htm">Psalm 55:9 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/psalms/55-9.htm">Psalm 55:9 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/psalms/55-9.htm">Psalm 55:9 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/psalms/55-9.htm">Psalm 55:9 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/psalms/55-9.htm">Psalm 55:9 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/psalms/55-9.htm">Psalm 55:9 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/psalms/55-9.htm">Psalm 55:9 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/psalms/55-9.htm">Psalm 55:9 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/psalms/55-9.htm">Psalm 55:9 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/psalms/55-9.htm">Psalm 55:9 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/psalms/55-9.htm">OT Poetry: Psalm 55:9 Confuse them Lord and confound their language (Psalm Ps Psa.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/psalms/55-8.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Psalm 55:8"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Psalm 55:8" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/psalms/55-10.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Psalm 55:10"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Psalm 55:10" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>