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Psalm 55:15
Let death come suddenly on them. Let them go down alive into Sheol. For wickedness is among them, in their dwelling.
13But it was you, a man like me, my companion, and my familiar friend.
14We took sweet fellowship together. We walked in God’s house with company.
15Let death come suddenly on them. Let them go down alive into Sheol. For wickedness is among them, in their dwelling.
16As for me, I will call on God. The LORD will save me.
17Evening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress. He will hear my voice.
Notice
The plea for enemies to descend alive into Sheol makes the anger after a companion’s betrayal stark, with wickedness named as the reason for judgment.
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Where else Scripture says this
11 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Psalm 59:13Consume them in wrath. Consume them, and they will be no more. Let them know that God rules in Jacob, to the ends of the earth. Selah.Both prayers ask for enemies to be destroyed, with Psalm 59 naming God’s rule as something their judgment should make known.
Psalm 63:9But those who seek my soul to destroy it shall go into the lower parts of the earth.Both describe a descent toward death for enemies, though Psalm 55 asks for it and Psalm 63 declares it will happen.
Psalm 9:17The wicked shall be turned back to Sheol, even all the nations that forget God.Both connect wickedness with descent into Sheol, presenting death as the destination of those who do evil.
Acts 1:18–20Now this man obtained a field with the reward for his wickedness; and falling headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines gushed out.Wickedness and violent death connect these texts: the psalm asks for death, while Acts recounts a gruesome bodily end.
Psalm 109:6–20Set a wicked man over him. Let an adversary stand at his right hand.Both voice requests against another person: death in Psalm 55, and a wicked ruler and adversary in Psalm 109.
Isaiah 5:14Therefore Sheol has enlarged its desire, and opened its mouth without measure; and their glory, their multitude, their pomp, and he who rejoices among them, …Both depict people descending into Sheol; Isaiah portrays its open mouth swallowing a multitude along with their glory and pomp.
Numbers 16:30But if the LORD makes a new thing, and the ground opens its mouth, and swallows them up with all that belong to them, and they go down alive into Sheol, then …Both speak of going down alive into Sheol, linking that descent with wickedness or contempt for the LORD.
Matthew 26:24The Son of Man goes even as it is written of him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not …Betrayal and severe judgment connect the psalm’s surrounding lines with Jesus’ warning about the man who betrays the Son of Man.
Acts 1:25to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas fell away, that he might go to his own place.”The shared thread is a destination: Acts speaks of Judas going to his own place without identifying that place as Sheol.
2 Samuel 18:14Then Joab said, “I’m not going to wait like this with you.” He took three darts in his hand and thrust them through Absalom’s heart while he was still alive in …Both emphasize being alive at the moment of destruction; Samuel describes Joab’s attack, while the psalm asks for judgment.
Matthew 27:5He threw down the pieces of silver in the sanctuary and departed. Then he went away and hanged himself.Death is the limited shared thread: the psalm asks for enemies’ deaths, while Matthew reports a man taking his own life.
Where this verse fits
Injustice and anger. broken friendship. church hurt.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
This prayer’s demand for death gives you no warrant to harm someone. The betrayed speaker turns to God with his distress, and judgment remains in God’s hands.
Now put it in your words.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).