The Book of Psalms

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- Chapter 55 -

Cast your burden on the Lord

(2 Samuel 17:15-29)

Unto the end. In verses, the understanding of David.

Listen to my prayer, O God, and despise not my supplication.

Be attentive to me, and heed me. I have been grieved in my training, and I have been disturbed

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.

My heart has become disturbed within me, and the dread of death has fallen over me.

Fear and trembling have overwhelmed me, and darkness has buried me.

And I said, “Who will give me wings like the dove, so that I may fly away and take rest?”

Behold, I have fled far away, and I linger in solitude.

I waited for him who saved me from a weak-minded spirit and from a tempest.(a)

Cast them down, O Lord, and divide their tongues. For I have seen iniquity and contradiction in the city.

Day and night, iniquity will surround it upon its walls, and hardship is in its midst,

with injustice. And usury and deceit have not fallen away from its streets.

For if my enemy had spoken evil about me, certainly, I would have sustained it. And if he who hated me had been speaking great things against me, I would perhaps have hidden myself from him.

Truly, you are a man of one mind: my leader and my acquaintance,

who took sweet food together with me. In the house of God, we walked side-by-side.(b)

Let death come upon them, and let them descend alive into Hellfire. For there is wickedness in their dwellings, in their midst.(c)

(d)

But I have cried out to God, and the Lord will save me.

Evening and morning and midday, I will discourse and announce, and he will heed my voice.

He will redeem my soul in peace from those who draw near to me. For, among the many, they were with me.(e)

God will hear, and He who is before time will humble them. For there is no change with them, and they have not feared God.

He has stretched forth his hand in retribution. They have contaminated his covenant.

They were divided by the wrath of his countenance, and his heart has drawn near. His words are smoother than oil, and they are arrows.(f)

Cast your cares upon the Lord, and he will nurture you. He will not allow the just to be tossed about forever.

Truly, O God, you will lead them away into the well of death. Bloody and deceitful men will not divide their days in half. But I will hope in you, O Lord.

Footnotes

(a)54:9 The word ‘pusillanimitate’ is actually two Latin words put together. The first refers to a very young animal, but is used to express the idea of weakness. The second word refers to the mind, or soul, or spirit. The effect of putting the two words together results in an expression of the idea of a weak soul or a weak mind. Thus, ‘pusillanimitate spiritus’ refers to a weak-minded soul. The last word, ‘tempestate,’ in this context, refers not to a literal wind-storm, but to a tempest of the mind and soul, i.e. to inner turmoil. It can also be taken to refer to a storm of words or of various kinds of opposition to truth and justice.(Conte)

(b)54:15 The expression ‘ambulavimus cum consensu’ means to agree to walk together, much like the English expression, ‘we walked side-by-side.’(Conte)

(c)54:16 The Book of Revelation teaches that the Antichrist and the false prophet will be thrown alive into the fires of Hell. Those who are still alive on earth at the time of the general Resurrection, and who are unrepentant evil-doers, will also be sent alive into the fires of Hell, with a resurrected body and soul.(Conte)

(d)54:16 Let death, etc:This, and such like imprecations which occur in the psalms, are delivered prophetically; that is, by way of foretelling the punishments which shall fall upon the wicked from divine justice, and approving the righteous ways of God: but not by way of ill will, or uncharitable curses, which the law of God disallows.(Challoner)

(e)54:19 Among many, etc:That is, they that drew near to attack me were many in company all combined to fight against me.(Challoner)

(f)54:22 They are divided, etc:Dispersed, scattered, and brought to nothing, by the wrath of God; who looks with indignation on their wicked and deceitful ways.(Challoner)

Cast your burden on the Lord

(2 Samuel 17:15-29)

Listen to my prayer, God. Don’t hide yourself from my supplication.

Attend to me, and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and moan

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.

My heart is severely pained within me. The terrors of death have fallen on me.

Fearfulness and trembling have come on me. Horror has overwhelmed me.

I said, “Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then I would fly away, and be at rest.

Behold, then I would wander far off. I would lodge in the wilderness.” Selah.

“I would hurry to a shelter from the stormy wind and storm.”

Confuse them, Lord, and confound their language, for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

Day and night they prowl around on its walls. Malice and abuse are also within her.

Destructive forces are within her. Threats and lies don’t depart from her streets.

For it was not an enemy who insulted me, then I could have endured it. Neither was it he who hated me who raised himself up against me, then I would have hidden myself from him.

But it was you, a man like me, my companion, and my familiar friend.

We took sweet fellowship together. We walked in God’s house with company.

Let death come suddenly on them. Let them go down alive into Sheol.(a) For wickedness is among them, in their dwelling.

As for me, I will call on God. The LORD will save me.

Evening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress. He will hear my voice.

He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, although there are many who oppose me.

God, who is enthroned forever, will hear and answer them. Selah. They never change and don’t fear God.

He raises his hands against his friends. He has violated his covenant.

His mouth was smooth as butter, but his heart was war. His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.

Cast your burden on the LORD and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved.

But you, God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction. Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days, but I will trust in you.

Footnotes

(a)55:15 Sheol is the place of the dead.