Psalm 55:11 kjv
Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
Psalm 55:11 nkjv
Destruction is in its midst; Oppression and deceit do not depart from its streets.
Psalm 55:11 niv
Destructive forces are at work in the city; threats and lies never leave its streets.
Psalm 55:11 esv
ruin is in its midst; oppression and fraud do not depart from its marketplace.
Psalm 55:11 nlt
Everything is falling apart;
threats and cheating are rampant in the streets.
Psalm 55 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 6:6-7 | “Hew down her trees; cast up a siege mound against Jerusalem... violence and destruction are heard within her..." | Urban corruption, pervasive violence. |
| Eze 7:23 | “Make the chain; for the land is full of bloody crimes and the city is full of violence.” | City filled with crime and violence. |
| Zeph 3:1-3 | “Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, the oppressing city!... Her officials within her are roaring lions..." | Wickedness of Jerusalem's leaders and citizens. |
| Mic 3:9-11 | “Hear this, you heads of the house of Jacob...who hate the good and love the evil...its judges judge for a bribe..." | Corruption of justice and leadership. |
| Isa 1:21-23 | “How the faithful city has become a harlot...Your princes are rebellious...everyone loves a bribe..." | Jerusalem's moral decay and corrupt leaders. |
| Hab 1:2-4 | “O LORD, how long shall I cry for help...the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth." | Justice corrupted, widespread violence. |
| Prov 1:11-16 | "If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without provocation..." | Plots and active violence of wicked men. |
| Jer 9:2-6 | “Oh, that I had in the desert a traveler’s lodging place...for they are all adulterers, a company of treacherous men.” | Deceit and treachery rampant in society. |
| Psa 41:9 | “Even my close friend in whom I trusted...has lifted his heel against me.” | Personal betrayal, highlighting the pain of deceit. |
| Psa 62:3-4 | “How long will all of you attack a man to destroy him...? They plan only to thrust him down from his high position..." | Scheming and deceitful nature of adversaries. |
| Prov 12:20 | “Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but joy for those who plan peace.” | Evil characterized by deceit. |
| Zech 8:17 | “Let none of you devise evil in your hearts against his neighbor, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the LORD.” | Warning against evil thoughts and deceitful actions. |
| Rom 3:10-18 | “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God...their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” | Universal prevalence of sin and corruption (quoting OT). |
| Isa 59:14 | “Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away...and equity cannot enter.” | Justice and truth absent from public life. |
| Job 20:12 | “Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth...he hides it under his tongue.” | The deceptive nature of evil. |
| Matt 23:27-28 | “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs...full of all uncleanness.” | Inward corruption masked by outward appearance. |
| Matt 24:10-12 | “And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another...and lawlessness will be increased.” | Increased betrayal and lawlessness in latter times. |
| 1 John 3:4 | “Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.” | Sin is a violation of divine law and order. |
| Psa 73:6-9 | “Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment...They set their mouth against the heavens..." | Arrogance and oppressive nature of the wicked. |
| Prov 28:5 | “Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand it fully.” | The wicked's inability to grasp true justice. |
| Isa 2:9 | “So man is humbled, and each is brought low; do not forgive them.” | Result of widespread human wickedness and pride. |
| Jer 4:20 | “Disaster follows close on disaster; the whole land is laid waste. Suddenly my tents are destroyed, my curtains in a moment.” | Consequences of pervasive destruction and moral decay. |
Psalm 55 verses
Psalm 55 11 Meaning
Psalm 55:11 depicts a profound state of moral and social decay within a city, understood to be Jerusalem. The verse asserts that destruction, wickedness, and violence are not merely external threats but are deeply entrenched within its very fabric. Fraud and deceit are described as omnipresent, consistently operating without restraint in the public spheres, indicating a pervasive corruption of justice, commerce, and interpersonal relationships. This points to a complete breakdown of trust and righteousness from within.
Psalm 55 11 Context
Psalm 55 is a lament by David, characterized by intense personal anguish and fear. The surrounding verses reveal David's desperate plea to God for deliverance (vv. 1-8), specifically from adversaries within his own city. The "city" mentioned in verses 9-11 is widely understood to be Jerusalem, implying a time of internal rebellion or betrayal, often associated with Absalom's revolt and the defection of Ahithophel. David laments the prevailing atmosphere of violence, strife, and ruin in the city, highlighting the public and constant nature of this evil (vv. 9-10). Verse 11 directly describes the insidious presence of destruction, fraud, and deceit within Jerusalem's very core, leading up to the shocking revelation of betrayal by a trusted companion in verses 12-14. The historical context thus speaks of internal treachery rather than merely external threat, adding a layer of profound heartbreak to the widespread corruption described.
Psalm 55 11 Word analysis
- Destruction (`הַוֹּת`, hawwōṯ): This Hebrew word implies ruin, mischief, or wickedness. It signifies active perversion and malevolent intent, not just misfortune. It denotes evil that causes devastation, suggesting not merely abstract sin but a force actively at work to dismantle and corrupt. The plural form emphasizes its multifarious and pervasive nature.
- is in its midst (`בְּקִרְבָּהּ`, bəqirbāh): Literally "in her inward part," or "within her." This powerfully indicates that the decay is not peripheral but at the heart of the city. It suggests an internal rot, a deeply rooted moral infection, highlighting that the enemy is within the gates, intertwined with daily life, rather than merely besieging from outside.
- fraud (`עֹקֶל`, ‘ōqel): This is a rare and difficult Hebrew word. It is often understood as "perversity," "crookedness," "distortion," or "oppression." It suggests a twisting of justice, dishonesty in dealings, and actions that are morally perverse or unfair. Unlike outright violence, it points to cunning, manipulative, and unethical behavior, often hidden or disguised. Some scholars link it to ‘osheq, meaning "oppression" or "extortion."
- and deceit (`וּמִרְמָה`, ûmirmâ): This term speaks of treachery, betrayal, and intentional deception. It signifies a calculated falsehood aimed at misleading or harming others. Its conjunction with "fraud" (`‘ōqel`) paints a picture of deliberate cunning and calculated dishonesty in all spheres of public life, further corrupting relationships and transactions.
- do not depart (`לֹא יָמִישׁוּ`, lō’ yāmîšū): This conveys an unbroken, continuous presence. It means these evils are constant, fixed, and always active, day and night, without respite or turning away. It emphasizes the chronic nature of the corruption, indicating a society where these vices are the norm rather than an exception.
- from its streets (`מֵרְחֹבֹתֶיהָ`, mērəḥōḇōṯeyhā): "Streets" or "broad places" were the public squares where people gathered, justice was administered, commerce took place, and communal life unfolded. The fact that fraud and deceit do not depart from these places means that public life itself is saturated with wickedness. It's not confined to dark alleys but operates openly, shamelessly, impacting everyone and everything. It underscores the lack of safe, honest public interaction.
- "Destruction...in its midst": This phrase highlights that the problem is not external attack but internal decay. The destructive forces originate from within the community, signifying self-inflicted ruin through moral corruption.
- "fraud and deceit do not depart from its streets": This powerfully illustrates the pervasive nature of dishonesty. These are not isolated incidents but constant, visible features of public life, corrupting the very places where integrity, fairness, and justice should prevail. It indicates a societal condition where truth and righteousness have been abandoned.
Psalm 55 11 Bonus section
The strong imagery in Psalm 55:11, especially the concept of hawwōṯ (destruction/ruin), is not merely descriptive but carries theological weight. In a biblical worldview, pervasive hawwōṯ signifies a deviation from God's created order and His standards of justice and truth, inherently leading to ruin, whether through divine judgment or self-inflicted societal collapse. The absence of justice and the presence of ‘ōqel (crookedness/fraud) and mirmâ (deceit) in public spaces also serve as a profound counterpoint to the ideal Israelite society called to uphold justice and righteousness "in the gates." The gate, or reḥōḇ, was the place for righteous judgment (e.g., Deut 21:19, Amos 5:15); therefore, its contamination indicates a complete subversion of divine law and societal order.
Psalm 55 11 Commentary
Psalm 55:11 paints a grim picture of urban decay driven by pervasive moral corruption. It details that destruction is not merely an external threat but is inherently woven into the city's fabric. This signifies that the community's own choices and actions are bringing about its downfall. The terms "fraud" and "deceit" emphasize a pervasive ethical breakdown, where truth, honesty, and fair dealing are abandoned in favor of manipulation and treachery. Their constant presence in "the streets" underscores that this corruption is not hidden but is an open and active part of daily public life—in markets, in courts, in social interactions. This state of affairs reveals a society devoid of righteousness and integrity, whose very foundations are undermined by internal treachery and ungodliness. This internal decay is more terrifying to the Psalmist than any external enemy because it suggests a self-destructive pathology.
For practical usage, this verse highlights the danger of unchecked sin within a community, a church, or even a personal life. It teaches that corruption left unaddressed can become deeply entrenched and publicly normalized. It calls believers to stand against such perversion and deception, advocating for truth and righteousness in all spheres.