Psalms 55King James Version
A friend has turned enemy. Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. It was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: but it was thou, a man mine equal.
A lament about betrayal by a close friend, one of the most emotionally specific psalms in the collection. David opens with terror and trembling, the longing for wings to fly away, a violent city full of strife. Then the stab: it was not an enemy but his own companion, equal and guide, with whom he walked to the house of God. The psalm pivots to petition and the famous line 'Cast thy burden upon the LORD.' It ends without full resolution.
The wound from a trusted companion is qualitatively different from enemy attack, and the psalm names that specific pain before asking God to hold the weight of it.
verse: "Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved." Cast follows the unbearable description of betrayal; the burden is specific, not abstract.
Superscription: 'To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David.' The friend described in vv13-14 may be Ahithophel, David's counselor who joined Absalom's rebellion (2 Sam 15-16). Ahithophel's counsel was considered as reliable as the word of God (2 Sam 16:23), making his betrayal the sharpest imaginable.
David as the sufferer; the unnamed companion who broke covenant and whose speech was smooth as butter while his heart was war; God as the sustainer; the violent city as the wider context.
Psalm 55 is one of the most human psalms in the collection. The detailed description of betrayal by a friend has been applied throughout Christian tradition to Judas's betrayal of Jesus. Peter quotes the language of betrayal in Acts 1:20. 1 Peter 5:7 echoes v22 directly: 'casting all your care upon him.'
For when someone close has turned against you and the particular cruelty is that you shared something sacred together. This psalm gives language to that specific grief.
1[To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David.] Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.
2Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;
3Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.
4My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
5Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
6And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.
7Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.
8I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.
9Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
10Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.
11Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
12For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:
13But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.
14We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.
15Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.
16As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.
17Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
18He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.
19God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.
20He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.
21The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.
22Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
23But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.