Psalms 55:19

19 God, who is enthroned from of old, who does not change— he will hear them and humble them, because they have no fear of God.

Psalms 55:19 in Other Translations

19 God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.

19 God will give ear and humble them, he who is enthroned from of old, Selah because they do not change and do not fear God.

19 God, who has ruled forever, will hear me and humble them. Interlude For my enemies refuse to change their ways; they do not fear God.

19 God hears it all, and from his judge's bench puts them in their place. But, set in their ways, they won't change; they pay him no mind.

19 God will hear, and answer them, Even he that abideth of old, [Selah [The men] who have no changes, And who fear not God.

19 God will listen. The one who has sat enthroned from the beginning will deal with them. Selah They never change. They never fear God.

19 God, the One enthroned from long ago, will hear, and will humiliate them Selah because they do not change and do not fear God.

19 God sits on his throne forever. He hears my prayers and makes my enemies suffer. "Selah" They never change their ways. They don't have any respect for God.

Psalms 55:19 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 55:19

God shall hear and afflict them
That is, either he shall hear the prayers of his servant, imprecating evils upon his enemies, ( Psalms 55:9 Psalms 55:15 ) ; and shall bring them down upon them, in answer to his requests; or it may be, rendered, "God shall hear and answer them" ^F3; he shall hear their blasphemies, and take notice of their wickedness, and answer them by terrible things in righteousness;

even he that abideth of old;
or "is the inhabitant of eternity" ^F4 ( Isaiah 57:15 ) ; the eternal God, from everlasting to everlasting, who was before all creatures and before all time, and will ever remain the same, out of whose hands there is no escaping. The Targum is,

``and he inhabiteth the heavens from of old to everlasting.''

Selah; of this word, (See Gill on Psalms 3:2).

Because they have no changes;
Kimchi renders it, who hath no changes; taking (wml) to be the same with (wl) , and interprets it of God; connecting it with the former clause, that he that abideth of old hath no changes. There is no variableness nor shadow of turning with him; he never changes his mind, nor alters his counsel, whether it be for good or evil; and yet wicked men fear him not. But rather this is to be understood of sinners, as the Targum paraphrases it,

``who are not of old, and who do not change their evil way;''

who have no changes in their hearts, nor in their lives, but continue in their natural and sinful estate, without any impression of the power and grace of God upon them. Or they have no changes in their worldly circumstances, from good to bad, as Aben Ezra explains it; things go well with them, and they are not in trouble as other men; they are at ease and quiet, and are settled on their lees; see ( Job 10:17 ) ( Psalms 73:4 Psalms 73:5 ) ( Jeremiah 48:11 ) . Or they have no regard to their last change by death; and are not afraid of that, as Jarchi interprets it; they put away this evil day far from them; think nothing about it, as if it would never be, and as if they had made an agreement with it that this change should never come upon them, ( Job 14:14 Job 14:20 ) ;

therefore they fear not God;
do not serve and worship him now, and are not afraid of his judgments here or hereafter; no change being made in their hearts, nor any alteration in their secular affairs for the worse; but having much goods laid up for many years, and sentence against their evil works not being speedily executed, their hearts are hardened, and they live secure in sin.

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FOOTNOTES:

F3 (Mneyw) "et respondeat illis", Cocceius.
F4 (Mdq bvyw) "et incola antiquitatis, vel aeternitatis", Gejerus.

Psalms 55:19 In-Context

17 Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice.

18 He rescues me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me.

19 God, who is enthroned from of old, who does not change— he will hear them and humble them, because they have no fear of God.

20 My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.

21 His talk is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords.

Cross References

• 1. S Exodus 15:18; Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalms 29:10
• 2. Psalms 78:59
• 3. Psalms 36:1; Psalms 64:4