Psalms 55 · Verse 9

Psalms 55:9

Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
Psalms 55:9, King James Version

Psalms 55:9 in other translations

BSBO Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city.
WEBConfuse them, Lord, and confound their language, for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
ASVDestroy, O Lord, and divide their tongue; For I have seen violence and strife in the city.
YLTSwallow up, O Lord, divide their tongue, For I saw violence and strife in a city.
DARBYSwallow them up, Lord; divide their tongue: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
BBESend destruction on them, O Lord, make a division of tongues among them: for I have seen fighting and violent acts in the town.
WebsterDestroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

What does Psalms 55:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
9. Destroy--literally, "swallow" (Psa 21:9). divide their tongues--or, "confound their speech," and hence their counsels (Ge 11:7). the city--perhaps Jerusalem, the scene of anarchy.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 Destroy, O lord - Swallow them up - confound them. Divide their tongues - Let his counsellors give opposite advice. Let them never agree, and let their devices be confounded. And the prayer was heard. Hushai and Ahithophel gave opposite counsel. Absalom followed that of Hushai; and Ahithophel, knowing that the steps advised by Hushai would bring Absalom's affairs to ruin, went and hanged himself. See 2 Samuel 15, 16, and 17. Violence and strife in the city - They have been concerting violent measures; and thus are full of contention.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 55:9-15
No wickedness so distresses the believer, as that which he witnesses in those who profess to be of the church of God. Let us not be surprised at the corruptions and disorders of the church on earth, but long to see the New Jerusalem. He complains of one that had been very industrious against him. God often destroys the enemies of the church by dividing them. And an interest divided against itself cannot long stand. The true Christian must expect trials from professed friends, from those with whom he has been united; this will be very painful; but by looking unto Jesus we shall be enabled to bear it. Christ was betrayed by a companion, a disciple, an apostle, who resembled Ahithophel in his crimes and doom. Both were speedily overtaken by Divine vengeance. And this prayer is a prophecy of the utter, the everlasting ruin, of all who oppose and rebel against the Messiah.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Psalms 55:9 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

בַּלַּ֣עba.La'confuseH1104
אֲ֭דֹנָי'A.do.naiO LordH136
פַּלַּ֣גpa.LagdivideH6385
לְשׁוֹנָ֑םle.sho.Namtongue theirH3956
כִּֽי\־ki-forH3588
רָאִ֨יתִיra.'I.tiI have seenH7200
חָמָ֖סcha.MasviolenceH2555
וְרִ֣יבve.Rivand strifeH7379
בָּעִֽיר\׃ba.'Irin the cityH5892

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 55:9

  • 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.

  • 2 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.

  • Genesis 11:7-9

    Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

  • Acts 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. And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees’ part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God. …

  • 2 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: And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only: And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace. And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel. …

  • John 7:45-53

    Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him? The officers answered, Never man spake like this man. Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived? Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him? …

  • Jeremiah 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.

  • Matthew 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! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
divide.That is, "Distract their counsels; and let their devices be confounded;"--and the prayer was heard; See the Parallel Passages.
Ge 11:7-9; 2Sa 15:31; 17:1-14; Joh 7:45-53; Ac 23:6-10
I have.
Jer 6:7; 23:14; Mt 23:37,38

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 55:8

    I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.

  • Psalms 55:9

    Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

  • Psalms 55:10

    Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.

Read all of Psalms 55

Psalms 55:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Deshace, oh Señor, divide la lengua de ellos; porque he visto violencia y rencilla en la ciudad.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Je me hâterais de m’échapper loin du vent de tempête, loin de l’ouragan.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Vernichte, Herr, zerteile ihre Zunge! denn Gewalttat und Hader habe ich in der Stadt gesehen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Deus, vitam meam annuntiavi tibi; posuisti lacrimas meas in conspectu tuo, sicut et in promissione tua: