Read
Psalm 55:3
because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they bring suffering on me. In anger they hold a grudge against me.
1For the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A contemplation by David. Listen to my prayer, God. Don’t hide yourself from my supplication.
2Attend to me, and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and moan
3because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they bring suffering on me. In anger they hold a grudge against me.
4My heart is severely pained within me. The terrors of death have fallen on me.
5Fearfulness and trembling have come on me. Horror has overwhelmed me.
Notice
The repeated “because” traces David’s restless complaint to hostile voices and oppression, showing how another person’s anger can become a source of fear.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What words from another person have stayed with you in the way this enemy’s voice troubles David?
Write on thisHow would you describe the suffering behind your complaint to God without softening what happened?
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Where else Scripture says this
12 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
2 Samuel 16:7–8Shimei said when he cursed, “Be gone, be gone, you man of blood, and wicked fellow!Shimei’s curse is hostile speech directed at David, matching Psalm 55’s distress at the voice of an enemy.
Psalm 35:11Unrighteous witnesses rise up. They ask me about things that I don’t know about.Both describe hostility expressed through speech: an enemy’s voice in Psalm 55 and questions from unrighteous witnesses in Psalm 35.
Psalm 27:12Don’t deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen up against me, such as breathe out cruelty.Both name threatening adversaries whose speech accompanies cruelty or oppression.
Proverbs 18:14A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?Both concern suffering, though Psalm 55 identifies hostile people as its source and Proverbs considers the burden of a crushed spirit.
Genesis 39:14she called to the men of her house, and spoke to them, saying, “Behold, he has brought a Hebrew in to us to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I …Speech directed against someone connects these passages: Psalm 55 names an enemy’s voice, while Genesis records an accusation against a Hebrew man.
Genesis 39:17She spoke to him according to these words, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought to us, came in to me to mock me,Both feature speech against another person, though Genesis records a specific accusation and Psalm 55 describes the suffering hostility causes.
2 Chronicles 18:7The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD; but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, …Personal hostility connects these texts: the king declares hatred for Micaiah, while David describes enemies who hold a grudge.
Psalm 42:9I will ask God, my rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”Both prayers name oppression by an enemy as the cause of distress brought before God.
2 Samuel 15:3Absalom said to him, “Behold, your matters are good and right; but there is no man deputized by the king to hear you.”Speech is the narrow link: Psalm 55 names an enemy’s voice, while Absalom criticizes the king’s provision for hearing complaints.
Psalm 17:9from the wicked who oppress me, my deadly enemies, who surround me.Both name the wicked as oppressors and describe enemies whose hostility threatens the speaker.
Matthew 26:59Now the chief priests, the elders, and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus, that they might put him to death,Both describe people seeking another’s harm, with Matthew specifying false testimony sought against Jesus to bring about his death.
Lamentations 3:34–36To crush under foot all the prisoners of the earth,Oppression links these texts: Psalm 55 names suffering inflicted by the wicked, and Lamentations depicts prisoners crushed underfoot.
Where this verse fits
Injustice and anger. anxiety or panic. work conflict.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
Being shaken by cruelty does not put prayer beyond your reach. David speaks to God while the enemy’s voice and anger still bear down on him.
Now put it in your words.
Start an entry on Psalm 55:3. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.
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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).