Psalms · WEB-C
Psalms
56
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For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Silent Dove in Distant Lands.” A poem by David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath. Be merciful to me, God, for man wants to swallow me up. All day long, he attacks and oppresses me. See also: 1 Samuel 29:4Psalms 16:1Psalms 69:13-16My enemies want to swallow me up all day long, for they are many who fight proudly against me. See also: Psalms 118:10-12Psalms 57:3Psalms 3:1When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. See also: Psalms 34:41 Samuel 30:62 Corinthians 7:5-6In God, I praise his word. In God, I put my trust. I will not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? See also: Hebrews 13:6Psalms 118:6Romans 8:31-39All day long they twist my words. All their thoughts are against me for evil. See also: Matthew 22:15Psalms 41:7Luke 11:54They conspire and lurk, watching my steps. They are eager to take my life. See also: Psalms 71:10Psalms 59:3Psalms 140:2Shall they escape by iniquity? In anger cast down the peoples, God. See also: Psalms 55:23Psalms 55:9Isaiah 28:15You count my wanderings. You put my tears into your container. Aren’t they in your book? See also: 2 Kings 20:5Malachi 3:16Psalms 39:12Then my enemies shall turn back in the day that I call. I know this: that God is for me. See also: Romans 8:31Psalms 118:6Isaiah 8:9-10In God, I will praise his word. In the LORD, I will praise his word. See also: Matthew 24:35Genesis 32:11Psalms 56:4I have put my trust in God. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? See also: Psalms 27:1Isaiah 51:12-13Isaiah 51:7-8Your vows are on me, God. I will give thank offerings to you. See also: Psalms 9:1-31 Samuel 1:24-28Psalms 50:14For you have delivered my soul from death, and prevented my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living. See also: Psalms 116:8-9Job 33:30Revelation 21:23-24
See also: Cross references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), derived in part from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).
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Notes · Haydock (1859, public domain)9 notes
Notes in English 19th-century Catholic commentary by Fr. George Leo Haydock, shown as published.
Douay-Rheims numbering: Psalm 55
These notes keep the polemics of their time: some speak harshly of the Jewish people or of other Christians. The Church teaches otherwise today. The Jewish people may not be blamed for the death of Christ (Nostra Aetate 4; Catechism 597–598), and Christians of other communities are our brothers and sisters in the Lord (Unitatis Redintegratio 3). Christian unity
Introduction to the chapter
PSALM LV. (MISERERE MEI DEUS.)
A prayer of David in danger and distress.
Psalms 55:1
Ver. 1. Geth. Before (Bert.) or after his escape to the cave of Odollam, (C.) he composed this psalm, to comfort his followers with the consideration of God's protection. H. --- See 1 K. xxii.
and Ps. x. The title is variously rendered. S. Jer. "to the victor for the dumb dove," &c. Prot.
"upon Jonath elem rechokim Michtam of David." This is to elude the difficulty, and we might as well adhere to the Sept. who seem to have only added, "from the sanctuary." The psalm may suit any one in distress, (Bert.) unable to attend the public service, (W.) or it may be understood of our Saviour's passion. Bert.
↑ 1Psalms 55:2
Ver. 2. Man. All combine against me. C. --- The sins of every man oppressed Jesus Christ.
Bert. --- All who live piously, must suffer many attacks. W.
↑ 2Psalms 55:4
Ver. 4. The height of the day. That is, even at noon day, when the sun is the highest, I am still in danger. Ch. --- Heb. "many fight against me from an elevation, or from day-break." --- Fear.
Many prefix a negation, which S. Jerom rejects, (ad Sun.) explaining this height of the divine majesty. C. --- David felt the impressions of fear; but corrected them by his confidence in God.
W.
↑ 4Psalms 55:5
Ver. 5. My words. The words or promises God has made in my favour. Ch. ---
Praising God (H.) removed the dejection of David. Euseb. --- Detested. Prot.
"wrest." They put an evil construction upon what I say, (H.) and make me their laughing-stock. Ps. xxxvii. 13. C. --- But I cease not to proclaim what God has declared in my favour, (H.) or what good I have been enabled to effect by his grace. My enemies may meet to devise my ruin, and to supplant me: yet all in vain. W.
↑ 5Psalms 55:8
Ver. 8. For nothing shalt thou save them. That is, since they lie in wait to ruin my soul, thou shalt for no consideration favour or assist them, but execute thy justice upon them. Ch.
↑ 8Psalms 55:9
Ver. 9. I have. Prot. "thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle. Are the not in thy book?" S. Jer. "thou hast numbered my most secret things: place my tears in thy sight,"
&c. H. --- Sept. render the sense clearer. Bert. --- God has promised to relieve the distressed, who confided in him.
↑ 9Psalms 55:11
Ver. 11. To me. This is almost a repetition of v. 5. C. --- Elohim and Jehova are mentioned (H.) as "the power and eternity" of God gave David the greatest confidence.
↑ 11Psalms 55:12
Ver. 12. To thee. Lit. "thy vows." H. --- Houbigant chooses rather to follow the Syriac, "with thee, O God, are my vows:" which is clearer, though our version may be well explained, "I will perform my vows to thee," (Bert.) the sacrifice of praises, in this psalm. C. --- I will endeavour to comply with my engagements and vows. W.
↑ 12Psalms 55:13
Ver. 13. Living, in my own country, where I am no longer, as formerly during my banishment, in the region of the dead. C. --- The Fathers explain this of Jesus Christ, or of eternal glory. Theod.
C. --- In the true faith and good works, I will strive to please God. W.
↑ 13License: Notes by Fr. George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), from the Douay-Rheims Bible with Haydock's commentary (first ed. Thomas Haydock, Manchester/Dublin, 1811–1814; New York: Edward Dunigan & Brother, 1859); New Testament notes compiled with Fr. Benedict Rayment. Public domain. Digital text: "The Haydock Bible", Internet Archive (archive.org/details/TheHaydockBible), uploaded 2011 under the Public Domain Mark. · Credits and licenses