Christian prayer
Psalm 55
Psalm 55 in its original text and with its meaning, a biblical prayer of distress, betrayal and trust in God.
- 23 verses
- About 1 minute to recite
- From the Bible
- 1
To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.
- 2
Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;
- 3
Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.
- 4
My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
- 5
Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
- 6
And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.
- 7
Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.
- 8
I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.
- 9
Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
- 10
Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.
- 11
Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
- 12
For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:
- 13
But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.
- 14
We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.
- 15
Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.
- 16
As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.
- 17
Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
- 18
He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.
- 19
God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.
- 20
He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.
- 21
The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.
- 22
Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
- 23
But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.
The Hebrew original
1 לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ בִּנְגִינֹ֗ת מַשְׂכִּ֥יל לְדָוִֽד׃
2 הַאֲזִ֣ינָה אֱ֭לֹהִים תְּפִלָּתִ֑י וְאַל־תִּ֝תְעַלַּ֗ם מִתְּחִנָּתִֽי׃
3 הַקְשִׁ֣יבָה לִּ֣י וַעֲנֵ֑נִי אָרִ֖יד בְּשִׂיחִ֣י וְאָהִֽימָה׃
4 מִקּ֤וֹל אוֹיֵ֗ב מִפְּנֵ֣י עָקַ֣ת רָשָׁ֑ע כִּי־יָמִ֥יטוּ עָלַ֥י אָ֝֗וֶן וּבְאַ֥ף יִשְׂטְמֽוּנִי׃
5 לִ֭בִּי יָחִ֣יל בְּקִרְבִּ֑י וְאֵימ֥וֹת מָ֝֗וֶת נָפְל֥וּ עָלָֽי׃
6 יִרְאָ֣ה וָ֭רַעַד יָ֣בֹא בִ֑י וַ֝תְּכַסֵּ֗נִי פַּלָּצֽוּת׃
7 וָאֹמַ֗ר מִֽי־יִתֶּן־לִּ֣י אֵ֭בֶר כַּיּוֹנָ֗ה אָע֥וּפָה וְאֶשְׁכֹּֽנָה׃
8 הִ֭נֵּה אַרְחִ֣יק נְדֹ֑ד אָלִ֖ין בַּמִּדְבָּ֣ר סֶֽלָה׃
9 אָחִ֣ישָׁה מִפְלָ֣ט לִ֑י מֵר֖וּחַ סֹעָ֣ה מִסָּֽעַר׃
10 בַּלַּ֣ע אֲ֭דֹנָי פַּלַּ֣ג לְשׁוֹנָ֑ם כִּֽי־רָאִ֨יתִי חָמָ֖ס וְרִ֣יב בָּעִֽיר׃
11 יוֹמָ֤ם וָלַ֗יְלָה יְסוֹבְבֻ֥הָ עַל־חוֹמֹתֶ֑יהָ וְאָ֖וֶן וְעָמָ֣ל בְּקִרְבָּֽהּ׃
12 הַוּ֥וֹת בְּקִרְבָּ֑הּ וְֽלֹא־יָמִ֥ישׁ מֵ֝רְחֹבָ֗הּ תֹּ֣ךְ וּמִרְמָֽה׃
13 כִּ֤י לֹֽא־אוֹיֵ֥ב יְחָֽרְפֵ֗נִי וְאֶ֫שָּׂ֥א לֹֽא־מְ֭שַׂנְאִי עָלַ֣י הִגְדִּ֑יל וְאֶסָּתֵ֥ר מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃
14 וְאַתָּ֣ה אֱנ֣וֹשׁ כְּעֶרְכִּ֑י אַ֝לּוּפִ֗י וּמְיֻדָּֽעִי׃
15 אֲשֶׁ֣ר יַ֭חְדָּו נַמְתִּ֣יק ס֑וֹד בְּבֵ֥ית אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים נְהַלֵּ֥ךְ בְּרָֽגֶשׁ׃
16 ישימות עָלֵ֗ימוֹ יֵרְד֣וּ שְׁא֣וֹל חַיִּ֑ים כִּֽי־רָע֖וֹת בִּמְגוּרָ֣ם בְּקִרְבָּֽם׃
17 אֲ֭נִי אֶל־אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֶקְרָ֑א וַ֝יהוָ֗ה יוֹשִׁיעֵֽנִי׃
18 עֶ֤רֶב וָבֹ֣קֶר וְ֭צָהֳרַיִם אָשִׂ֣יחָה וְאֶהֱמֶ֑ה וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע קוֹלִֽי׃
19 פָּ֘דָ֤ה בְשָׁל֣וֹם נַ֭פְשִׁי מִקֲּרָב־לִ֑י כִּֽי־בְ֝רַבִּ֗ים הָי֥וּ עִמָּדִֽי׃
20 יִשְׁמַ֤ע ׀ אֵ֨ל ׀ וְֽיַעֲנֵם֮ וְיֹ֤שֵׁ֥ב קֶ֗דֶם סֶ֥לָה אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֵ֣ין חֲלִיפ֣וֹת לָ֑מוֹ וְלֹ֖א יָרְא֣וּ אֱלֹהִֽים׃
21 שָׁלַ֣ח יָ֭דָיו בִּשְׁלֹמָ֗יו חִלֵּ֥ל בְּרִיתֽוֹ׃
22 חָלְק֤וּ ׀ מַחְמָאֹ֣ת פִּיו֮ וּֽקֲרָב־לִ֫בּ֥וֹ רַכּ֖וּ דְבָרָ֥יו מִשֶּׁ֗מֶן וְהֵ֣מָּה פְתִחֽוֹת׃
23 הַשְׁלֵ֤ךְ עַל־יְהוָ֨ה ׀ יְהָבְךָ֮ וְה֪וּא יְכַ֫לְכְּלֶ֥ךָ לֹא־יִתֵּ֖ן לְעוֹלָ֥ם מ֗וֹט לַצַּדִּֽיק׃
24 וְאַתָּ֤ה אֱלֹהִ֨ים ׀ תּוֹרִדֵ֬ם ׀ לִבְאֵ֬ר שַׁ֗חַת אַנְשֵׁ֤י דָמִ֣ים וּ֭מִרְמָה לֹא־יֶחֱצ֣וּ יְמֵיהֶ֑ם וַ֝אֲנִ֗י אֶבְטַח־בָּֽךְ׃
Wording: The Holy Bible, King James Version, 1611 (standard text of 1769). Copied word for word from the edition named here
Free to read, copy and print. No sign-in.
When it is prayed
Many Christians pray Psalm 55 during times of anxiety, conflict or betrayal by someone close to them. It gives words to grief and anger while turning toward trust in God. In the Christian tradition, it is also read as part of regular prayer and reflection on the Psalms.
Where it comes from
Psalm 55 comes from the Book of Psalms in the Bible and was originally composed in Hebrew. Its heading associates it with David. It is a lament that moves from anguish over violence and a companion’s betrayal toward entrusting one’s burdens to God.

The Library of Alexandria
Every prayer, and the books they come from
Unlimited eBooks, audiobooks and 15-minute summaries, and printed books at cost price: paperback, hardcover and large print. 5 accounts for the price of one, in 25 languages. Free to start.
- The scriptures, saints and mystics of every faith
- 5 accounts for the price of one, for your whole household
- Paperback, hardcover and large print, at the cost of printing
Free to start. Renews every year. Cancel anytime.
Related prayers and texts
- ChristianPsalm 91A biblical psalm of trust in God’s shelter and protection amid danger.
- ChristianPsalm 23A biblical psalm of trust in God, pictured as a caring shepherd and generous host.
- ChristianPsalm 121A biblical psalm of trust in God as the keeper of those who look to him for help.
- ChristianPsalm 35A biblical psalm asking God for protection, justice and deliverance from enemies.
Questions about Psalm 55
How many verses are in Psalm 55?
Psalm 55 has 23 verses.
What is Psalm 55 about?
It describes fear, unrest and the pain of betrayal by a close companion. The psalmist brings these troubles before God and calls for trust amid distress.
When do Christians pray Psalm 55?
Many Christians pray it when they feel overwhelmed, threatened or hurt by someone they trusted. It is also used in regular prayer and Bible reading.
Who wrote Psalm 55?
The psalm’s heading associates it with David, and it is traditionally known as a psalm of David. Its precise circumstances of composition are not certain.
What language was Psalm 55 originally written in?
Psalm 55 was originally composed in Hebrew, the language of most of the Book of Psalms.


















