The Meaning of Psalms 55:23 Explained

Psalms 55:23

KJV: 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.

YLT: And Thou, O God, dost bring them down To a pit of destruction, Men of blood and deceit reach not to half their days, And I -- I do trust in Thee!

Darby: And thou, O God, wilt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days. But as for me, I will confide in thee.

ASV: But thou, O God, wilt bring them down into the pit of destruction: Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; But I will trust in thee.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Psalms 55:23 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 55:12-23 - Friends May Forsake, But God Abideth
The streets and open spaces of the city were filled with conspirators. Violence, strife, deceit, and oppression trampled the virtuous and helpless under foot. The treachery of Ahithophel was worse than all. How different the hot anger of David from our Lord's treatment of Judas, when He washed Judas' feet, expostulated with him in the garden, and bade him pause to think to what he had come! Blessed is the soul that retires from the hubbub of the street-as David, Daniel, and all devout Israelites were wont to do-three times a day. Compare Psalms 55:17 with Daniel 6:10 and Acts 10:9. He will cover our heads in the day of battle and redeem our souls in peace, if only we will trust Him.
As the r.v. marginal rendering of Psalms 55:22 suggests, thy burden is that which God has given thee to carry. It did not come by chance nor from the evil intent of men. He cast it on thee; cast it back on Him. We cannot do our work so long as we stoop beneath the exhausting waste of anxiety and care. Hand all over to thy Father's care. Let no burdens break the Sabbath-keeping of thy heart! Nehemiah 13:19. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 55

1  David in his prayer complains of his fearful case
9  He prays against his enemies, of whose wickedness and treachery he complains
16  He comforts himself in God's preservation oh him, and confusion of his enemies

What do the individual words in Psalms 55:23 mean?

But You God shall bring them down to the pit of destruction men Bloodthirsty and deceitful not shall live out half their days but I will trust in You
וְאַתָּ֤ה אֱלֹהִ֨ים ׀ תּוֹרִדֵ֬ם ׀ לִבְאֵ֬ר שַׁ֗חַת אַנְשֵׁ֤י דָמִ֣ים וּ֭מִרְמָה לֹא־ יֶחֱצ֣וּ יְמֵיהֶ֑ם וַ֝אֲנִ֗י אֶבְטַח־ בָּֽךְ

וְאַתָּ֤ה  But  You 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, second person masculine singular
Root: אַתְּ 
Sense: you (second pers.
אֱלֹהִ֨ים ׀  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
תּוֹרִדֵ֬ם ׀  shall  bring  them  down 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person masculine singular, third person masculine plural
Root: יָרַד  
Sense: to go down, descend, decline, march down, sink down.
לִבְאֵ֬ר  to  the  pit 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: בְּאֵר  
Sense: well, pit, spring.
שַׁ֗חַת  of  destruction 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: שַׁחַת  
Sense: pit, destruction, grave.
אַנְשֵׁ֤י  men 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אֱנׄושׁ 
Sense: man, mortal man, person, mankind.
דָמִ֣ים  Bloodthirsty 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: דָּם  
Sense: blood.
וּ֭מִרְמָה  and  deceitful 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִרְמָה  
Sense: deceit, treachery.
יֶחֱצ֣וּ  shall  live  out  half 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: חָצָה  
Sense: to divide, cut in two, cut short, live half (of one’s life).
יְמֵיהֶ֑ם  their  days 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
וַ֝אֲנִ֗י  but  I 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אֲנִי  
Sense: I (first pers.
אֶבְטַח־  will  trust 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: בָּטוּחַ 
Sense: to trust.
בָּֽךְ  in  You 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular