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Psalms 55:9

Made Simple — Modern English Translation

Translated by Verse Made Simple Editorial
KJV ORIGINAL
Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE

Lord, confuse their speech and scatter their plans, because I have seen violence and fighting in the city.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

The writer is asking God to stop his enemies by confusing their ability to communicate and work together, because he sees violence and conflict all around him.

📚 Historical Context

Psalm 55 is attributed to King David and reflects his deep anguish over betrayal by close friends and the resulting turmoil in the city, likely drawing from his experiences during times of rebellion like Absalom's uprising in ancient Israel. In this verse, David prays for God to confuse his enemies' plans, echoing the biblical story of the Tower of Babel where God divided languages to thwart human unity against Him. This highlights the historical reality of internal conflicts in ancient Jerusalem, where violence and strife were common threats to leadership and society.

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