Psalms 55:23
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.
Study Note
Study Note
The confident closing declaration — 'but you, O God, will cast them down into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in you' — pivots Psalm 55's extended lament about betrayal by a close companion (verse 13-14) toward confident faith in divine judgment. The psalm's most poignant verse (13-14) identifies the enemy as a covenant companion with whom the psalmist had shared sweet fellowship in the temple, making the betrayal a quasi-Judas figure that the New Testament will apply to the betrayal of Jesus. The closing 'but I will trust in you' (va'ani evtach-bach) forms a personal contrast to the fate of the treacherous: while they are cut down, the psalmist's trust in God constitutes the alternative to retaliation. The verse models the transition from imprecation to trust that characterizes healthy lament psalmody.
Other Translations
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.
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!
But you, O God, will send them down into the underworld; the cruel and the false will be cut off before half their days are ended; but I will have faith in you.
Cross References
Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace.
Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two …
It shall be accomplished before his time, and his branch shall not be green.
Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
Hell and destruction are before the Lord: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?
The fear of the Lord prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit …
But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab’s hand: so he smote him therewith in the …
And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the …
And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and …