Psalm 55:3
New International Version
because of what my enemy is saying, because of the threats of the wicked; for they bring down suffering on me and assail me in their anger.

New Living Translation
My enemies shout at me, making loud and wicked threats. They bring trouble on me and angrily hunt me down.

English Standard Version
because of the noise of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they drop trouble upon me, and in anger they bear a grudge against me.

Berean Standard Bible
at the voice of the enemy, at the pressure of the wicked. For they release disaster upon me and revile me in their anger.

King James Bible
Because 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.

New King James Version
Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked; For they bring down trouble upon me, And in wrath they hate me.

New American Standard Bible
Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the pressure of the wicked; For they bring down trouble upon me And in anger they hold a grudge against me.

NASB 1995
Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the pressure of the wicked; For they bring down trouble upon me And in anger they bear a grudge against me.

NASB 1977
Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the pressure of the wicked; For they bring down trouble upon me, And in anger they bear a grudge against me.

Legacy Standard Bible
Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the pressure of the wicked; For they shake wickedness down upon me And in anger they bear a grudge against me.

Amplified Bible
Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the pressure of the wicked; For they bring down trouble on me, And in anger they persecute me.

Christian Standard Bible
because of the enemy’s words, because of the pressure of the wicked. For they bring down disaster on me and harass me in anger.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
because of the enemy’s voice, because of the pressure of the wicked. For they bring down disaster on me and harass me in anger.

American Standard Version
Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked; For they cast iniquity upon me, And in anger they persecute me.

Contemporary English Version
because my enemies attack with loud shouts. They treat me terribly and hold angry grudges.

English Revised Version
Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked; for they cast iniquity upon me, and in anger they persecute me.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
because my enemy shouts at me and a wicked person persecutes me. They bring misery crashing down on me, and they attack me out of anger.

Good News Translation
I am terrified by the threats of my enemies, crushed by the oppression of the wicked. They bring trouble on me; they are angry with me and hate me.

International Standard Version
because of the voice of the enemy, and because of the oppression of the wicked. They bring down evil upon me, and in anger they hate me.

Majority Standard Bible
at the voice of the enemy, at the pressure of the wicked. For they release disaster upon me and revile me in their anger.

NET Bible
because of what the enemy says, and because of how the wicked pressure me, for they hurl trouble down upon me and angrily attack me.

New Heart English Bible
Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked. For they bring suffering on me. In anger they hold a grudge against me.

Webster's Bible Translation
Because 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.

World English Bible
because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they bring suffering on me. In anger they hold a grudge against me.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Because of the voice of an enemy, "" Because of the oppression of the wicked, "" For they cause sorrow to move against me, "" And in anger they hate me.

Young's Literal Translation
Because of the voice of an enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked, For they cause sorrow to move against me, And in anger they hate me.

Smith's Literal Translation
From the voice of the enemy, from the face of the oppression of the unjust one: for they will bring down vanity upon me, for in anger they will lie in wait for me.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
at the voice of the enemy, and at the tribulation of the sinner. For they have cast iniquities upon me: and in wrath they were troublesome to me.

Catholic Public Domain Version
at the voice of the adversary and at the tribulation of the sinner. For they have diverted iniquities toward me, and they have been harassing me with rage.

New American Bible
at the uproar of the enemy, the clamor of the wicked. They heap trouble upon me, savagely accuse me.

New Revised Standard Version
by the noise of the enemy, because of the clamor of the wicked. For they bring trouble upon me, and in anger they cherish enmity against me.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Because of mine enemies, because of the oppression of the wicked; for they have devised iniquity against me, and reproached me.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because of my enemies and because of the affliction of the evil, because the evil have prayed against me and they regarded me with malice!
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked; For they cast mischief upon me, And in anger they persecute me.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
because of the voice of the enemy, and because of the oppression of the sinner: for they brought iniquity against me, and were wrathfully angry with me.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Cast Your Burden upon the LORD
2Attend to me and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and distraught 3at the voice of the enemy, at the pressure of the wicked. For they release disaster upon me and revile me in their anger. 4My heart murmurs within me, and the terrors of death assail me.…

Cross References
Isaiah 51:13
But you have forgotten the LORD, your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth. You live in terror all day long because of the fury of the oppressor who is bent on destruction. But where is the fury of the oppressor?

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.

Lamentations 3:62
the slander and murmuring of my assailants against me all day long.

Job 19:7
Though I cry out, ‘Violence!’ I get no response; though I call for help, there is no justice.

Psalm 64:1-2
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Hear, O God, my voice of complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy. / Hide me from the scheming of the wicked, from the mob of workers of iniquity,

Psalm 140:1-3
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men. Protect me from men of violence, / who devise evil in their hearts and stir up war all day long. / They sharpen their tongues like snakes; the venom of vipers is on their lips. Selah

Psalm 10:7
His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and violence; trouble and malice are under his tongue.

Psalm 31:13
For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side. They conspire against me and plot to take my life.

Psalm 69:4
Those who hate me without cause outnumber the hairs of my head; many are those who would destroy me—my enemies for no reason. Though I did not steal, I must repay.

Psalm 109:3
They surround me with hateful words and attack me without cause.

Proverbs 1:11-12
If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause, / let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit.

Isaiah 59:7
Their feet run to evil; they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are sinful thoughts; ruin and destruction lie in their wake.

Matthew 5:11
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.

Matthew 10:22
You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.

John 15:18-19
If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. / If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.


Treasury of Scripture

Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity on me, and in wrath they hate me.

oppression

Psalm 12:5
For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.

Psalm 54:3
For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.

Psalm 73:8
They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.

for they

Psalm 27:12
Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

Psalm 35:11
False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.

2 Samuel 15:3
And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.

Jump to Previous
Anger Bear Cast Cause Cherish Cruel Cry Enemy Evil Evil-Doers Grudge Hate Hold Iniquity Loud Mischief Move Noise Ones Oppression Persecute Pressure Sorrow Suffering Trouble Troubled Voice Weight Wicked Wrath
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Anger Bear Cast Cause Cherish Cruel Cry Enemy Evil Evil-Doers Grudge Hate Hold Iniquity Loud Mischief Move Noise Ones Oppression Persecute Pressure Sorrow Suffering Trouble Troubled Voice Weight Wicked Wrath
Psalm 55
1. David in his prayer complains of his fearful case
9. He prays against his enemies, of whose wickedness and treachery he complains
16. He comforts himself in God's preservation oh him, and confusion of his enemies














at the voice of the enemy
This phrase highlights the external pressures and threats faced by the psalmist. The Hebrew word for "enemy" is "oyeb," which often denotes an adversary or foe. In the historical context of David's life, this could refer to literal enemies such as Saul or Absalom. Spiritually, it represents the constant battle against forces that oppose God's will. The "voice" signifies not just spoken words but the influence and intimidation that enemies can exert. This reminds believers of the spiritual warfare described in Ephesians 6:12, where the struggle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces.

and the pressure of the wicked
The term "pressure" conveys a sense of being overwhelmed or oppressed. The Hebrew root "lachats" implies squeezing or distress. The "wicked," or "rasha" in Hebrew, are those who live in opposition to God's laws. Historically, this could refer to those who plotted against David, but it also symbolizes the broader struggle against sin and evil in the world. This phrase encourages believers to seek God's strength in times of trial, as Jesus promised in Matthew 11:28-30, offering rest to those who are weary and burdened.

For they bring down trouble upon me
The imagery here is of enemies casting burdens or calamities upon the psalmist. The Hebrew word "ra" for "trouble" encompasses evil, distress, and adversity. This reflects the reality of living in a fallen world where believers face trials and tribulations. The historical context might include the betrayal and conspiracies David faced, but it also speaks to the universal experience of suffering. This phrase calls Christians to remember that God is a refuge and strength, as stated in Psalm 46:1, a very present help in trouble.

and in anger they bear a grudge against me
"Anger" in Hebrew is "aph," which can also mean wrath or fury. This suggests a deep-seated animosity from the psalmist's enemies. The phrase "bear a grudge" indicates a persistent and enduring hostility. Historically, this could relate to the personal vendettas against David, but it also reflects the ongoing enmity between the world and God's people. This reminds believers of Jesus' words in John 15:18-19, where He warned that the world would hate His followers because it first hated Him. It encourages Christians to respond to hostility with love and forgiveness, following Christ's example.

(3) Oppressor.--This meaning of a rare word is secured from Amos 2:13.

Cast iniquity.--Better, roll mischief. The figure seems to be drawn from the practice of rolling stones down on an enemy from a height. In Psalm 140:10 the same verb is used of rolling burning coals on a foe.

Hate me.--Better, persecute me.

Verse 3. - Because of the voles of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. Professor Cheyne says that by "the wicked" heathen men are primarily intended. But רשׁע - the word used - is" the wicked man," in the simplest and widest sense (see Psalm 1:1, 4, 5, 6; Psalm 7:9; Psalm 9:16, etc.). For they cast iniquity upon me; or, "hurl wickedness at me" (Cheyne). And in wrath they hats me; rather, they persecute me (Hengstenberg, Kay, Cheyne, Revised Version).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
at the voice
מִקּ֤וֹל (miq·qō·wl)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6963: A voice, sound

of the enemy,
אוֹיֵ֗ב (’ō·w·yêḇ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 341: Hating, an adversary

at
מִפְּנֵ֣י (mip·pə·nê)
Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

the pressure
עָקַ֣ת (‘ā·qaṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 6125: Constraint

of the wicked.
רָשָׁ֑ע (rā·šā‘)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7563: Wrong, an, bad person

For
כִּי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

they release
יָמִ֥יטוּ (yā·mî·ṭū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 4131: To waver, to slip, shake, fall

disaster
אָ֝֗וֶן (’ā·wen)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 205: Strictly nothingness, trouble, vanity, wickedness, an idol

upon me
עָלַ֥י (‘ā·lay)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

and revile me
יִשְׂטְמֽוּנִי׃ (yiś·ṭə·mū·nî)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | first person common singular
Strong's 7852: To bear a grudge or cherish animosity against

in their anger.
וּבְאַ֥ף (ū·ḇə·’ap̄)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 639: The nose, nostril, the face, a person, ire


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OT Poetry: Psalm 55:3 Because of the voice of the enemy (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 55:2
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