Psalm 55:19 - Printer Friendly

ESV: God will give ear and humble them, he who is enthroned from of old, Selah because they do not change and do not fear God.

NIV: God, who is enthroned from of old, who does not change-- he will hear them and humble them, because they have no fear of God.

NASB: God will hear and humiliate them— Even the one who sits enthroned from ancient times— Selah With whom there is no change, And who do not fear God.

CSB: God, the one enthroned from long ago, will hear and will humiliate them Selah because they do not change and do not fear God.

NLT: God, who has ruled forever, will hear me and humble them. Interlude For my enemies refuse to change their ways; they do not fear God.

KJV: God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.

NKJV: God will hear, and afflict them, Even He who abides from of old. Selah Because they do not change, Therefore they do not fear God.

David's confidence in God to answer his prayer was high, and so was his concept of God. Despite intense danger (Psalm 55:2–5), he is assured that the Lord will defeat his enemies (Psalm 55:16–18). David had a right to sit on the throne of Israel (2 Samuel 7:9, 11), but God has been the unchallenged King for all time (Deuteronomy 33:27). Those who fail to give God proper respect and reverence—those who do not "fear" him (Proverbs 1:7)—will refuse to submit to truth. They will suffer the consequences of that stubbornness (Proverbs 14:27).

Before the dawn of human history Lucifer sinned by coveting God's throne (Isaiah 14:13), but God humbled him. He told Lucifer, "But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit" (Isaiah 14:15). When King Uzziah died, Isaiah entered the temple and caught a vision of God. He saw Him "sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up" (Isaiah 6:1). The apostle John, too, received a vision of God. He writes: "At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne" (Revelation 4:2).

This is verse is split by the Hebrew term selah. This most likely implies a pause, or a musical interlude. David seems to be calling for a moment of reflection about God's eternal nature, before continuing to explain why his enemies are doomed to failure.

Psalm 55:16–21 includes a prayer for God to judge David's enemies, especially the traitor who was his former friend. David expresses supreme confidence that God will hear his prayer. Likewise, he is sure that those who ignore the Lord will be "humbled" and defeated.

David begins this song with a prayer for rescue, likely from his rebelling son, Absalom (2 Samuel 15:1–12). David is pained because of a close ally's betrayal; this would refer to Ahithophel, who sided with the rebels (2 Samuel 15:31). This situation creates intense fear. However, David is confident God will rescue him. He is fully assured that those who attack him will be humbled and judged by the Lord.

This is among the psalms recording David's plea for divine help in a time of persecution (Psalms 3; 6; 35). He was betrayed by a close friend, likely Ahithophel (2 Samuel 15:31). This was probably written in response to the rebellion of Absalom (2 Samuel 15:1–12). Despite his trouble, David was confident God would protect him and punish his enemies.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.