Verse

Psalm 55:11

ESV ruin is in its midst; oppression and fraud do not depart from its marketplace.
NIV Destructive forces are at work in the city; threats and lies never leave its streets.
NASB Destruction is in her midst; Oppression and deceit do not depart from her streets.
CSB destruction is inside it; oppression and deceit never leave its marketplace.
NLT Everything is falling apart; threats and cheating are rampant in the streets.
KJV Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
NKJV Destruction is in its midst; Oppression and deceit do not depart from its streets.

What does Psalm 55:11 mean?

David laments the "ruin…oppression and fraud" plaguing Jerusalem. This probably refers to the way his son, Absalom, convinced the people to turn against David, their king (2 Samuel 15:1–6). Part of Absalom's strategy was to engage the people in public spaces—winning their loyalty. Of course, this also required him to mislead people and pull them away from their rightful king.

Other Scriptures note the importance of city gates and markets in ancient society. Genesis reports that Lot sat in the gate of Sodom (Genesis 19:1), a wicked city that the Lord later destroyed (Genesis 19:24–25). Apparently, Lot had become a prominent citizen of Sodom. Although Jerusalem had not become as wicked as ancient Sodom, it had descended into moral failure. People in Jerusalem oppressed and defrauded one another. Instead of speaking truthfully, they lied to one another and took advantage of one another. They rejected God's commandments (Exodus 20:15–16; Leviticus 19:13, 35–37; Deuteronomy 25:13–16).
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