What is the meaning of Psalm 55:9?

O Lord

David begins with a direct appeal to the covenant-keeping God who hears and intervenes. Like Psalm 18:6, “In my distress I called upon the LORD,” he reaches for the personal name that guarantees faithfulness. The simple cry, “O LORD,” reminds us:

• Prayer is not a last resort but a first response (Psalm 62:8).

• The believer addresses a living Person, not an abstraction (Psalm 34:15).

• Every request rests on God’s unchanging character (Malachi 3:6).

---

confuse and confound their speech

David asks God to break the counsel of the wicked, echoing God’s judgment at Babel—“Come, let Us go down and confuse their language” (Genesis 11:7). He is not indulging personal vengeance; he is seeking divine justice so evil plans crumble. Consider:

• God has repeatedly overturned hostile strategies—Ahithophel’s advice was “turned into foolishness” (2 Samuel 15:31).

• This request protects the innocent; when evil voices lose coherence, victims gain relief (Isaiah 8:10).

• Confounded speech exposes hidden plots, bringing darkness into light (Job 5:12-13).

Imprecatory verses like this align with Romans 12:19—“Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”

---

for I see violence and strife in the city

David’s prayer is fueled by what his eyes witness. Jerusalem, meant for worship, is torn by conflict. The scene recalls Habakkuk 1:2-3—“Why do You make me see… violence?” and mirrors Nehemiah’s burden over ruined walls (Nehemiah 1:3-4).

• “Violence” (physical harm) and “strife” (social turmoil) often walk together (Psalm 55:10-11).

• Public sin invites public judgment; concealed sin tends to spread (Proverbs 29:8).

• God’s people should never grow numb to disorder; righteous hearts lament and intercede (Ezekiel 9:4).

The verse challenges believers today: when cities erupt in chaos, we petition the Lord who alone can restore peace (Isaiah 9:6-7).

---

summary

Psalm 55:9 portrays a faithful servant turning eyewitness anguish into fervent petition. He looks upward (“O Lord”), asks boldly for divine disruption of evil plans (“confuse and confound their speech”), and grounds his plea in stark reality (“for I see violence and strife in the city”). God hears such prayers, topples unrighteous designs, and guards His people, proving again that Scripture is both trustworthy and unflinchingly relevant.