Psalms 55:9
7 How far away I would flee! In the wilderness I would remain. Selah
8 I would hurry to my shelter, far from this raging tempest.”
O Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they encircle the walls, while malice and trouble lie within.
11 Destruction is within; oppression and deceit never leave the streets.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- O Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city.
- KJV
- Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
- WEB
- Confuse them, Lord, and confound their language, for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
- ASV
- Destroy, O Lord, [and] divide their tongue; For I have seen violence and strife in the city.
- DARBY
- Swallow [them] up, Lord; divide their tongue: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
- BLB
- Swallow up, O Lord, divide their tongues! For I have seen violence and strife in the city.
- ÅB
- oppsluk dem, Herre, kløv deres tungemål! For jeg ser vold og kiv i byen.
- OTB
- Forvirr dem, Herre, del deres språk,
For jeg har sett vold og strid i byen. - B1930
- Opsluk dem, Herre, kløv deres tungemål! For jeg ser vold og kiv i byen.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Jeremiah 6:7
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.
Read in context2 Samuel 15:31
Now someone told David: “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David pleaded, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”
Read in contextGenesis 11:7–9
Come, let Us go down and confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.”
Read in contextActs 23:6–10
Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. It is because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”
Read in context2 Samuel 17:1–14
Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David.
Read in contextJohn 7:45–53
Then the officers returned to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring Him in?”
Read in contextJeremiah 23:14
And among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: They commit adultery and walk in lies. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns his back on wickedness. They are all like Sodom to Me; the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.”
Read in contextMatthew 23:37–38
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!
Read in context