Psalms – Chapter 55

Old Testament13 Verses

Chapter Summary

Chapter 55 of Psalms begins: "Unto the end, for a people that is removed at a distance from the sanctuary: for David, for an inscription of a title (or pillar) when the…" David stands at the center of this chapter. Across its 13 verses, two threads run through the text: worship and praise and God's protection and deliverance. Read slowly, this chapter rewards the kind of prayerful attention the Church calls lectio divina.

1Unto the end, for a people that is removed at a distance from the sanctuary: for David, for an inscription of a title (or pillar) when the Philistines held him in Geth.

2Have mercy on me, O God, for man hath trodden me under foot; all the day long he hath afflicted me fighting against me.

3My enemies have trodden on me all the day long; for they are many that make war against me.

4From the height of the day I shall fear: but I will trust in thee.

5In God I will praise my words, in God I have put my trust: I will not fear what flesh can do against me.

6All the day long they detested my words: all their thoughts were against me unto evil.

7They will dwell and hide themselves: they will watch my heel. As they have waited for my soul,

8For nothing shalt thou save them: in thy anger thou shalt break the people in pieces. O God,

9I have declared to thee my life: thou hast set me tears in thy sight, As also in thy promise.

10Then shall my enemies be turned back. In what day soever I shall call upon thee, behold I know thou art my God.

11In God will I praise the word, in the Lord will I praise his speech. In God have I hoped, I will not fear what man can do to me.

12In me, O God, are vows to thee, which I will pay, praises to thee:

13Because thou hast delivered my soul from death, my feet from falling: that I may please in the sight of God, in the light of the living.

Important Verses in Psalms 55

Have mercy on me, O God, for man hath trodden me under foot; all the day long he hath afflicted me fighting against me.

Psalms 55:2

In God I will praise my words, in God I have put my trust: I will not fear what flesh can do against me.

Psalms 55:5

For nothing shalt thou save them: in thy anger thou shalt break the people in pieces. O God,

Psalms 55:8

Because thou hast delivered my soul from death, my feet from falling: that I may please in the sight of God, in the light of the living.

Psalms 55:13

Historical Context

Psalms belongs to the Old Testament and was composed for god's people at prayer in every age. Chapter 55 of 150 stands in the central portion of the book, where decisive events or teachings take shape. It is a liturgical poem composed for Temple worship and personal prayer with 13 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. Historical attention falls on David, the principal figures named in this chapter. The passage starts with these words: "Unto the end, for a people that is removed at a distance from the sanctuary: for David, for an inscription of a title…" It concludes: "Because thou hast delivered my soul from death, my feet from falling: that I may please in the sight of God, in the…" The wider setting of Psalms is this: The 150 Psalms are the inspired prayer book of Israel and of the Church, spanning every human emotion—praise, lament, thanksgiving, repentance, and hope. The book's material reflects the era summarized as follows: Composed across nearly a millennium, from David (c. 1000 BC) to after the exile.

Who Wrote It

David is credited with many psalms; others by Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, Moses, and anonymous psalmists

When It Was Written

Composed across nearly a millennium, from David (c. 1000 BC) to after the exile

Catholic Commentary

This psalm is a prayer-poem that Israel sang in Temple worship and private devotion. A pivotal line is verse 2: "Have mercy on me, O God, for man hath trodden me under foot; all the day long he hath afflicted me fighting against me." The passage repeatedly touches on worship and praise.

Catholic exegesis reads Psalms 55 within the unity of Scripture and Tradition. the Psalms are the prayer book of the Church, prayed daily in the Liturgy of the Hours (CIC 2585-2589). St. Leo the Great and other Fathers of the Church saw in texts like this a preparation for or reflection of Christ, the center of revelation (CIC 2683).

Applied to the life of faith, the passage supports the Church's conviction that God invites us to bring all our emotions to Him. Whether read privately or heard in the liturgy, Psalms 55 calls for a response of faith, repentance, and charity.

Main Teachings

  • Worship is the heart of the covenant: giving God the praise and adoration that are His due.
  • The Lord is a refuge and deliverer for all who call upon Him in trouble.
  • Faith is a gift and a decision: entrusting ourselves entirely to God and to His promises.

People in This Chapter

David1 mention

Reflection for Today

Catholic exegesis approaches Psalms Chapter 55 with reverence, seeking both the literal sense and the spiritual meaning ordered to Christ.

Catholic theology recognizes that prayer, praise, and the full range of human emotion before God is not an abstract idea but a reality encountered in prayer, sacraments, and charity. This chapter contributes to that vision by stressing the reality of spiritual combat and vigilance.

Consider praying with this chapter again at day's end, offering God gratitude for one insight received. The Church encourages daily contact with Scripture (CIC 26) so that Christ's mind may be formed in us.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Psalms Chapter 55 about?

Psalms 55 contains 13 verses. It opens with "Unto the end, for a people that is removed at a distance from the sanctuary: for David, for an inscription of a title…" and closes with "Because thou hast delivered my soul from death, my feet from falling: that I may please in the sight of God, in the…". The book as a whole is liturgical poetry and prayer.

What is a key verse in Psalms 55?

One of the most significant verses is verse 2: "Have mercy on me, O God, for man hath trodden me under foot; all the day long he hath afflicted me fighting against me." It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Psalms Chapter 55?

This chapter mentions David.

Who wrote Psalms and when?

David is credited with many psalms; others by Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, Moses, and anonymous psalmists. Composed across nearly a millennium, from David (c. 1000 BC) to after the exile.

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