Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Destructive forces are at work in the city; threats and lies never leave its streets. New Living Translation Everything is falling apart; threats and cheating are rampant in the streets. English Standard Version ruin is in its midst; oppression and fraud do not depart from its marketplace. Berean Standard Bible Destruction is within; oppression and deceit never leave the streets. King James Bible Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets. New King James Version Destruction is in its midst; Oppression and deceit do not depart from its streets. New American Standard Bible Destruction is in her midst; Oppression and deceit do not depart from her streets. NASB 1995 Destruction is in her midst; Oppression and deceit do not depart from her streets. NASB 1977 Destruction is in her midst; Oppression and deceit do not depart from her streets. Legacy Standard Bible Destruction is in her midst; Oppression and deceit do not depart from her streets. Amplified Bible Destruction is within her; Oppression and deceit do not depart from her streets and market places. Christian Standard Bible destruction is inside it; oppression and deceit never leave its marketplace. Holman Christian Standard Bible destruction is inside it; oppression and deceit never leave its marketplace. American Standard Version Wickedness is in the midst thereof: Oppression and guile depart not from its streets. Contemporary English Version and corruption. Troublemakers and liars freely roam the streets. English Revised Version Wickedness is in the midst thereof: oppression and guile depart not from her streets. GOD'S WORD® Translation Destruction is everywhere. Oppression and fraud never leave the streets. Good News Translation There is destruction everywhere; the streets are full of oppression and fraud. International Standard Version Wickedness is at the center of it; fraud and lies never leave its streets. NET Bible Disaster is within it; violence and deceit do not depart from its public square. New Heart English Bible Destructive forces are within her. Threats and lies do not depart from her streets. Webster's Bible Translation Wickedness is in the midst of it: deceit and guile depart not from her streets. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleDestruction is within; oppression and deceit never leave the streets. World English Bible Destructive forces are within her. Threats and lies don’t depart from her streets. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionMischiefs [are] in its midst. Fraud and deceit do not depart from its street. Young's Literal Translation Mischiefs are in its midst. Fraud and deceit depart not from its street. Smith's Literal Translation Mischief in her midst: oppression and deceit will not depart from her wide place. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims Bibleand injustice. And usury and deceit have not departed from its streets. Catholic Public Domain Version New American Bible treachery is in its midst; oppression and fraud never leave its streets. New Revised Standard Version ruin is in its midst; oppression and fraud do not depart from its marketplace. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleWickedness is in the midst of it; deceit and guile depart not from its streets. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Evil, lies and deceit are within it and fraud and deceit do not depart from its streets. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Wickedness is in the midst thereof; Oppression and guile depart not from her broad place. Brenton Septuagint Translation and usury and craft have not failed from its streets. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Cast Your Burden upon the LORD…10Day and night they encircle the walls, while malice and trouble lie within. 11Destruction is within; oppression and deceit never leave the streets. 12For it is not an enemy who insults me; that I could endure. It is not a foe who rises against me; from him I could hide.… Cross References Jeremiah 6:7 As a well gushes its water, so she pours out her evil. Violence and destruction resound in her; sickness and wounds are ever before Me. Isaiah 59:6-8 Their cobwebs cannot be made into clothing, and they cannot cover themselves with their works. Their deeds are sinful deeds, and acts of violence are in their hands. / Their feet run to evil; they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are sinful thoughts; ruin and destruction lie in their wake. / The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their tracks. They have turned them into crooked paths; no one who treads on them will know peace. Micah 6:12 For the wealthy of the city are full of violence, and its residents speak lies; their tongues are deceitful in their mouths. Ezekiel 7:23 Forge the chain, for the land is full of crimes of bloodshed, and the city is full of violence. Habakkuk 1:3 Why do You make me see iniquity? Why do You tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me. Strife is ongoing, and conflict abounds. Jeremiah 9:6 You dwell in the midst of deception; in their deceit they refuse to know Me,” declares the LORD. Isaiah 48:22 “There is no peace,” says the LORD, “for the wicked.” Proverbs 4:16-17 For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall. / For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. Isaiah 57:20-21 But the wicked are like the storm-tossed sea, for it cannot be still, and its waves churn up mire and muck. / “There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.” Ezekiel 22:25 The conspiracy of the princes in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing its prey. They devour the people, seize the treasures and precious things, and multiply the widows within her. Matthew 23:28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. Romans 3:13-17 “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The venom of vipers is on their lips.” / “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” / “Their feet are swift to shed blood; ... James 3:16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 But understand this: In the last days terrible times will come. / For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, / unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good, ... Matthew 24:12 Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. Treasury of Scripture Wickedness is in the middle thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets. Wickedness Ezekiel 22:1-12 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, … Acts 7:51,52 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye… deceit Psalm 109:2,3 For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue… Isaiah 59:7 Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. Jeremiah 5:26,27 For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men… Jump to Previous Broad City Cruel Deceit Depart Destruction Destructive Evil Forces Fraud Guile Lies Market Midst Mischiefs Oppression Perversities Ruin Rule Street Streets Thereof Threats Wickedness Within WorkJump to Next Broad City Cruel Deceit Depart Destruction Destructive Evil Forces Fraud Guile Lies Market Midst Mischiefs Oppression Perversities Ruin Rule Street Streets Thereof Threats Wickedness Within WorkPsalm 55 1. David in his prayer complains of his fearful case9. 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 Destruction is within; This phrase highlights the internal turmoil and moral decay present within the city, likely Jerusalem. The psalmist, traditionally identified as David, expresses a deep sense of betrayal and chaos from within his own community. Historically, Jerusalem faced numerous internal conflicts, including those during David's reign, such as Absalom's rebellion. This internal destruction can be seen as a reflection of the spiritual state of the people, where sin and disobedience to God lead to societal breakdown. Theologically, this can be connected to the concept of sin corrupting from within, as seen in Romans 7:21-23, where Paul discusses the internal struggle with sin. oppression and deceit never leave the streets. Persons / Places / Events 1. DavidTraditionally attributed as the author of Psalm 55, David is expressing his anguish and betrayal by a close friend, which is a central theme of this psalm. 2. Jerusalem The city is often seen as the backdrop for the events described, representing a place where David experienced both triumph and turmoil. 3. Betrayal A significant event in this psalm, reflecting David's personal experience of being betrayed by someone close to him, possibly Ahithophel during Absalom's rebellion. 4. Oppression and Deceit These are the conditions described in the psalm, symbolizing the moral and social decay present in the city. 5. Destruction Represents the consequences of sin and betrayal, both personally for David and corporately for the city. Teaching Points The Reality of BetrayalBetrayal is a painful reality that even the most faithful believers may experience. It is important to bring our pain to God, as David did. The Consequences of Sin The presence of destruction, oppression, and deceit highlights the destructive nature of sin in our lives and communities. God as Our Refuge Despite the betrayal and chaos around us, God remains our refuge and strength. We are encouraged to cast our burdens on Him. Moral Vigilance We must be vigilant against allowing deceit and oppression to take root in our own lives and communities. Hope in God's Justice While we may face injustice and betrayal, we can trust in God's ultimate justice and righteousness. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Psalm 55:11?2. How can we address "destruction" and "oppression" in our communities today? 3. What does Psalm 55:11 reveal about the nature of human sinfulness? 4. How does Psalm 55:11 connect with Jesus' teachings on peace and justice? 5. In what ways can we seek God's guidance to combat "deceit" in society? 6. How can we apply Psalm 55:11 to promote truth in our daily lives? 7. How does Psalm 55:11 reflect the nature of human betrayal and deceit? 8. What historical context influenced the writing of Psalm 55:11? 9. How does Psalm 55:11 relate to the theme of divine justice? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Psalm 55? 11. What is the Bible's view on evil people? 12. How should we respond to betrayal and deceit? 13. How does Psalm 11:6's description of raining coals and brimstone fit with other biblical accounts that emphasize mercy over destruction? 14. Psalm 52:5 promises God will 'uproot' the wicked--why does history record many powerful oppressors who died peacefully? What Does Psalm 55:11 Mean Destruction is within“Destruction is within” (Psalm 55:11) pictures ruin festering in the heart of the city, not merely at its borders. The danger David mourns isn’t an invading army but a moral collapse birthed from the inside. • In Proverbs 11:3 we read, “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the treacherous destroys them,” echoing the idea that decay springs from corrupted hearts rather than external pressure. • Jesus lamented, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem… how often I have longed to gather your children together” (Matthew 23:37), revealing how inward rejection of God sparked eventual devastation. • Isaiah 1:4–7 similarly diagnoses Judah: rebellion within led to “your cities burned with fire.” God’s people are warned: when sin is tolerated privately, catastrophe will soon be public. Oppression and deceit David adds, “oppression and deceit” are embedded in daily life. The terms capture two sides of injustice—crushing others by force and manipulating them by falsehood. • Micah 6:11–12 indicts those whose “rich men are full of violence; the inhabitants speak lies.” • In James 5:4 workers cry out because wages are withheld, showing oppression can hide beneath business as usual. • Jesus exposes the religious leaders in Luke 11:39, whose cup is “clean on the outside” yet filled with “greed and wickedness,” illustrating deceit wrapped in respectable clothing. When truth and mercy disappear, society unravels no matter how prosperous it looks. Never leave the streets The phrase “never leave the streets” highlights the relentless, public nature of the sin. It is not an occasional lapse; it’s a permanent resident. • Amos 3:10 says, “They do not know how to do right… they store up violence and destruction in their fortresses,” portraying constant wrongdoing as a way of life. • Revelation 18:23 pictures Babylon where “your merchants were the great ones of the earth, and all nations were deceived by your sorcery,” again connecting ceaseless deception with eventual judgment. • Proverbs 28:2 reminds us, “When a land transgresses, it has many rulers,” suggesting chronic disorder when evil continually stalks the streets. Persistent sin deadens conscience, making repentance harder and judgment inevitable. summary Psalm 55:11 warns that when a community allows inward decay, tolerates oppression, and normalizes deceit, devastation is sure to follow. The verse calls believers to guard the heart, confront injustice, and prize truth, confident that God sees every street and will ultimately vindicate righteousness. (11) Deceit.--Rather, oppression, or violence.Streets.--Rather, squares, the open space at the gate of an Oriental city where public business was conducted. It is a miserable picture of mis-government; in the very seat of justice is nothing but oppression and guile. Verse 11. - Wickedness is in the midst thereof; deceit and guile depart not from her streets; literally, out of her street (rehob) - "the open square, where justice ought to have been administered "(Kay), "adjoining the vaulted passage of the city gate" (Cheyne); comp. Job 29:7.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Destructionהַוּ֥וֹת (haw·wō·wṯ) Noun - feminine plural Strong's 1942: Desire, chasm, destruction [is] in the midst; בְּקִרְבָּ֑הּ (bə·qir·bāh) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular Strong's 7130: The nearest part, the center oppression תֹּ֣ךְ (tōḵ) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 8496: Injury, oppression and deceit וּמִרְמָֽה׃ (ū·mir·māh) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 4820: Deceit, treachery never וְֽלֹא־ (wə·lō-) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no leave יָמִ֥ישׁ (yā·mîš) Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 4185: To depart, remove the streets. מֵ֝רְחֹבָ֗הּ (mê·rə·ḥō·ḇāh) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular Strong's 7339: A broad open place, plaza Links Psalm 55:11 NIVPsalm 55:11 NLT Psalm 55:11 ESV Psalm 55:11 NASB Psalm 55:11 KJV Psalm 55:11 BibleApps.com Psalm 55:11 Biblia Paralela Psalm 55:11 Chinese Bible Psalm 55:11 French Bible Psalm 55:11 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Psalm 55:11 Destructive forces are within her (Psalm Ps Psa.) |