Psalms 55:9
7 Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.
8 I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.
Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.
11 Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her 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 fountain casteth out her waters, so she casteth out her wickedness: violence and spoil is heard in her; before me continually is grief and wounds.
Read in context2 Samuel 15:31
And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.
Read in contextGenesis 11:7–9
Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.
Read in contextActs 23:6–10
But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
Read in context2 Samuel 17:1–14
Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:
Read in contextJohn 7:45–53
Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him?
Read in contextJeremiah 23:14
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.
Read in contextMatthew 23:37–38
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou 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 her wings, and ye would not!
Read in context