Psalm 55 10

Psalm 55:10 kjv

Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.

Psalm 55:10 nkjv

Day and night they go around it on its walls; Iniquity and trouble are also in the midst of it.

Psalm 55:10 niv

Day and night they prowl about on its walls; malice and abuse are within it.

Psalm 55:10 esv

Day and night they go around it on its walls, and iniquity and trouble are within it;

Psalm 55:10 nlt

Its walls are patrolled day and night against invaders,
but the real danger is wickedness within the city.

Psalm 55 verses

Psalm 55 10 Meaning

Psalm 55:10 paints a vivid and somber picture of pervasive wickedness within a city or community. It describes an unrelenting, ever-present evil that encompasses the entire environment, both outwardly "on its walls" and inwardly "within it." The phrase "Day and night they go about it" emphasizes the continuous, tireless nature of this evil's activity. "Iniquity and trouble are within it" points to the internal decay, the moral perversion, and the resultant distress and oppression that saturate the very heart of the place. It portrays a society consumed by corruption, where wickedness is not an occasional occurrence but a constant, integral presence.

Psalm 55 10 Context

Psalm 55 is a passionate lament attributed to David, expressing deep anguish and fear over betrayal by a close companion, potentially Ahithophel during Absalom's rebellion (2 Sam 15-17). The Psalm transitions from a general plea for help and condemnation of evildoers to a specific outburst against the traitor. Verse 10 fits within a larger description of the moral decay and violence that pervade the city from which David wishes to flee. The preceding verses (6-9) reveal David's desire to escape this tumultuous and treacherous environment, longing for wings to fly away from the "stormy wind and tempest." This intense yearning for escape underscores the dire situation within the city, where injustice and strife are rampant, leading directly into the detailed depiction of omnipresent evil in verse 10. The historical context, if indeed David's flight from Absalom, depicts a city, Jerusalem, which was the seat of justice and God's dwelling, now paradoxically infiltrated and consumed by such profound iniquity due to rebellion and internal strife.

Psalm 55 10 Word analysis

• Day and night (Hebrew: Yômam wālaylāh): This phrase emphasizes the relentless, continuous, and unceasing nature of the activity. There is no rest or cessation for this pervasive evil. It signifies vigilance and persistence in its dark work, active around the clock without break.
• they go about it (Hebrew: sāḇeḇûhā): Derived from the verb sāḇaḇ (to go around, surround, turn about). It conveys a sense of patrolling, encompassing, or circulating. It can imply a pervasive spread, an insidious movement, or an active presence that envelops and surrounds. The "they" is indefinite, pointing to the forces of wickedness itself or the agents of mischief within the city.
• on its walls (Hebrew: ‘al ḥômōtêhā): The walls of a city are meant for defense, protection, and security. For evil to be active on the walls signifies that the very structures meant to protect have become compromised, or are actively used by the forces of malevolence. It suggests that evil has taken command of the city's outward defenses and boundaries.
• Iniquity (Hebrew: ‘āwen): This term often refers to moral evil, wickedness, perversity, sin, or even misfortune that results from sin. It carries a connotation of twistedness, crookedness, or distortion of what is right. It speaks to the spiritual and moral corruption at the heart of the evil.
• and trouble (Hebrew: wā‘āmāl): This word signifies toil, labor, pain, mischief, hardship, or oppression. It often describes the painful consequences or afflictions caused by 'awen (iniquity). It points to the active harm, injustice, and suffering inflicted due to the prevailing wickedness.
• are within it (Hebrew: ḇeḵirbāhh): This denotes presence in the inner part, the midst, the heart or core of something. Juxtaposed with "on its walls," it highlights that the evil is not merely superficial or external but has deeply penetrated and resides at the very center of the city. The corruption is profound, systemic, and all-encompassing, affecting both the exterior and interior.

• "Day and night they go about it on its walls": This phrase paints a picture of incessant evil. The "they" can be understood as wicked people or even the spiritual forces of darkness that operate through human agents. They are like constant, tireless sentinels, not of good, but of malevolence, patrolling every aspect of the city's outer shell, preventing true security and perpetuating their influence. It implies a total siege by sin, where even the protective elements are agents or sites of the oppression.
• "Iniquity and trouble are within it": This signifies the deep, internal rottenness. The external activity ("on its walls") is a symptom of the profound corruption inside the city. It indicates that the core moral fabric has disintegrated. 'Awen (iniquity) refers to the corrupting nature of sin itself, while 'amal (trouble) speaks to the destructive and oppressive results that ripple through the community. The city is not just under attack, it is infected from within, illustrating that moral decay is self-destructive.

Psalm 55 10 Bonus section

This verse provides a powerful metaphor for how sin can become systemic within a society or institution. The "walls" often symbolize governance, legal structures, and public morality—elements meant to protect and uphold justice. However, if wickedness "goes about on its walls," it signifies that these very structures are compromised, or that wicked actors control them and use them to perpetuate evil rather than restrain it. The contrast between the walls (outward protection) and "within it" (inward core) highlights the dual nature of pervasive evil: it exerts control externally through its operations and internally by corrupting hearts and intentions. This level of pervasive evil means the system itself becomes hostile to righteousness, explaining David's intense longing for escape. It resonates with the New Testament understanding of spiritual strongholds and the need for divine intervention to cleanse a space or heart overtaken by persistent ungodliness.

Psalm 55 10 Commentary

Psalm 55:10 profoundly illustrates the pervasive nature of sin and its destructive impact on a community. The image of malevolence continuously patrolling "day and night... on its walls" depicts an inescapable atmosphere of threat, not just from external foes, but from evil embedded within the very defenses and fabric of the society. This is further intensified by the declaration that "iniquity and trouble are within it," emphasizing that the core essence of the place is poisoned by moral perversion and its resulting afflictions. It is a city where wickedness is an active, living entity, preventing peace and promoting distress. This verse speaks to the overwhelming despair felt when surrounded by relentless corruption, where the absence of righteousness brings about an enduring state of suffering.