Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words, for I see violence and strife in the city. New Living Translation Confuse them, Lord, and frustrate their plans, for I see violence and conflict in the city. English Standard Version Destroy, O Lord, divide their tongues; for I see violence and strife in the city. Berean Standard Bible O Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city. King James Bible Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city. New King James Version Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues, For I have seen violence and strife in the city. New American Standard Bible Confuse them, Lord, divide their tongues, For I have seen violence and strife in the city. NASB 1995 Confuse, O Lord, divide their tongues, For I have seen violence and strife in the city. NASB 1977 Confuse, O Lord, divide their tongues, For I have seen violence and strife in the city. Legacy Standard Bible Confuse, O Lord, divide their tongues, For I have seen violence and strife in the city. Amplified Bible Confuse [my enemies], O Lord, divide their tongues [destroying their schemes], For I have seen violence and strife in the city. Christian Standard Bible Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city; Holman Christian Standard Bible Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city; American Standard Version Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongue; For I have seen violence and strife in the city. Contemporary English Version Confuse my enemies, Lord! Upset their plans. Cruelty and violence are all I see in the city, English Revised Version Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongue: for I have seen violence and strife in the city. GOD'S WORD® Translation Completely confuse their language, O Lord, because I see violence and conflict in the city. Good News Translation Confuse the speech of my enemies, O Lord! I see violence and riots in the city, International Standard Version Confound them, Lord, and confuse their speech, because I have seen violence and strife in the city. Majority Standard Bible O Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city. NET Bible Confuse them, O Lord! Frustrate their plans! For I see violence and conflict in the city. New Heart English Bible Confuse them, Lord, and confound their language, for I have seen violence and strife in the city. Webster's Bible Translation Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city. World English Bible Confuse them, Lord, and confound their language, for I have seen violence and strife in the city. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionSwallow up, O Lord, divide their tongue, "" For I saw violence and strife in a city. Young's Literal Translation Swallow up, O Lord, divide their tongue, For I saw violence and strife in a city. Smith's Literal Translation Swallow up, O Jehovah, divide their tongue: for I saw violence and strife in the city. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleCast down, O Lord, and divide their tongues; for I have seen iniquity and contradiction in the city. Catholic Public Domain Version New American Bible Lord, check and confuse their tongues. For I see violence and strife in the city New Revised Standard Version Confuse, O Lord, confound their speech; for I see violence and strife in the city. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleDestroy, O LORD, and render useless their tongues; for I have seen violence and strife in the city. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated LORD JEHOVAH, drown the conversation of their tongues, for I have seen fighting and judgment in the city. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongue; For I have seen violence and strife in the city. Brenton Septuagint Translation Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen iniquity and gain saying in the city. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Cast Your Burden upon the LORD…8I would hurry to my shelter, far from this raging tempest.” 9O Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city. 10Day and night they encircle the walls, while malice and trouble lie within.… Cross References Genesis 11:7-9 Come, let Us go down and confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.” / So the LORD scattered them from there over the face of all the earth, and they stopped building the city. / That is why it is called Babel, for there the LORD confused the language of the whole world, and from that place the LORD scattered them over the face of all the earth. Isaiah 19:2 “So I will incite Egyptian against Egyptian; brother will fight against brother, neighbor against neighbor, city against city, and kingdom against kingdom. 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. Jeremiah 9:4-6 “Let everyone guard against his neighbor; do not trust any brother, for every brother deals craftily, and every friend spreads slander. / Each one betrays his friend; no one tells the truth. They have taught their tongues to lie; they wear themselves out committing iniquity. / You dwell in the midst of deception; in their deceit they refuse to know Me,” declares the LORD. Ezekiel 22:25-28 The conspiracy of the princes in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing its prey. They devour the people, seize the treasures and precious things, and multiply the widows within her. / Her priests do violence to My law and profane My holy things. They make no distinction between the holy and the common, and they fail to distinguish between the clean and the unclean. They disregard My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. / Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey, shedding blood, and destroying lives for dishonest gain. ... Micah 7:6 For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies are the members of his own household. Matthew 10:21 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. Matthew 24:10 At that time many will fall away and will betray and hate one another, Mark 13:12 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. Luke 12:53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” Luke 21:16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death. John 7:43 So there was division in the crowd because of Jesus. John 9:16 Because of this, some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for He does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a sinful man perform such signs?” And there was division among them. Acts 14:4 The people of the city were divided. Some sided with the Jews, and others with the apostles. Acts 23:7-10 As soon as he had said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. / For the Sadducees say that there is neither a resurrection nor angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. / A great clamor arose, and some scribes from the party of the Pharisees got up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” ... Treasury of Scripture Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city. divide. Genesis 11:7-9 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech… 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. 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: … I have 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. 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! … Jump to Previous Acts City Confound Confuse Destroy Destruction Divide Division Fighting Language Plans Speech Strife Swallow Tongue Tongues Violence Violent WickedJump to Next Acts City Confound Confuse Destroy Destruction Divide Division Fighting Language Plans Speech Strife Swallow Tongue Tongues Violence Violent WickedPsalm 55 1. David in his prayer complains of his fearful case9. 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 O Lord, confuse and confound their speech This phrase echoes the biblical account of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11:7, where God confuses the language of the people to thwart their plans. The psalmist, David, is calling upon God to intervene in a similar manner against his enemies. This plea reflects a desire for divine justice and intervention, recognizing that God has the power to disrupt the plans of the wicked. The confusion of speech can also symbolize the breakdown of communication and unity among those who plot evil, leading to their eventual downfall. This request for divine intervention highlights the belief in God's sovereignty over human affairs and His ability to protect His people by disrupting the plans of their adversaries. for I see violence and strife in the city Persons / Places / Events 1. DavidThe author of the psalm, who is expressing his distress and calling upon God for intervention against his enemies. 2. Enemies The adversaries of David, who are causing violence and strife, likely within the city of Jerusalem. 3. Jerusalem The city where David observes violence and strife, representing a place of both physical and spiritual significance. 4. God The one whom David calls upon to intervene and bring confusion to the plans of the wicked. 5. Violence and Strife The conditions present in the city, which are the result of the actions of the wicked and are the focus of David's lament. Teaching Points The Power of Prayer in Times of DistressDavid's immediate response to turmoil is to pray. We should also turn to God first when facing conflict. God's Sovereignty Over Human Affairs Just as God confused the languages at Babel, He has the power to disrupt the plans of the wicked today. The Reality of Spiritual Warfare The violence and strife in the city reflect the spiritual battles we face. We must be vigilant and prayerful. The Importance of Righteous Leadership David's lament highlights the need for godly leadership to prevent violence and strife in our communities. Trusting God Amidst Betrayal David's experience teaches us to trust God even when we feel betrayed by those close to us.(9) Destroy.--Literally, swallow up. So the LXX., forcibly, "drown in the sea." The object them must be supplied. This sudden change from plaintive sadness to violent invective is one of the marked features of this poem. Some think there has been a transposition of verses, but in lyric poetry these abrupt transitions of tone are not uncommon nor unpleasing. Divide their tongues--i.e., cause division in their councils. "Divide their voices" would be almost English, being exactly the opposite of Shakespeare's "a joint and corporate voice." For I have seen.--With the sense, and see still. Verses 9-15. - With a sudden transition, the writer passes from his own suffering, fears, and longings, to imprecations on his enemies, and a description of their wicked proceedings. In the course of his description he singles out one individual for special remark - one who had been his own guide, companion, and friend - but who had turned against him, and joined the company of his adversaries (vers. 12-14). Verse 9. - Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues. The second clause contains a reference to the confusion of tongues at Babel (Genesis 11:7). "Introduce confusion into their counsels, and disperse them, as thou didst with the wicked ones who were forced to leave off to build the Tower." For I have seen violence and strife in the city. Such quarrels and broils, i.e., as usually precede revolutionary disturbance.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew O Lord,אֲ֭דֹנָי (’ă·ḏō·nāy) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 136: The Lord confuse בַּלַּ֣ע (bal·la‘) Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 1104: To swallow down, swallow up, engulf and confound פַּלַּ֣ג (pal·laḡ) Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 6385: To split, divide their speech, לְשׁוֹנָ֑ם (lə·šō·w·nām) Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 3956: The tongue for כִּֽי־ (kî-) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction I see רָאִ֨יתִי (rā·’î·ṯî) Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular Strong's 7200: To see violence חָמָ֖ס (ḥā·mās) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2555: Violence, wrong, by meton, unjust gain and strife וְרִ֣יב (wə·rîḇ) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 7379: Strife, dispute in the city. בָּעִֽיר׃ (bā·‘îr) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 5892: Excitement Links Psalm 55:9 NIVPsalm 55:9 NLT Psalm 55:9 ESV Psalm 55:9 NASB Psalm 55:9 KJV Psalm 55:9 BibleApps.com Psalm 55:9 Biblia Paralela Psalm 55:9 Chinese Bible Psalm 55:9 French Bible Psalm 55:9 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Psalm 55:9 Confuse them Lord and confound their language (Psalm Ps Psa.) |
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