What does Psalms Chapter 55 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

The Latin incipit is Miserere mei, Deus. The speaker’s petitions, recollections and future declarations retain their distinct wording. Edition interpretations remain separate from verse speech; no universal safety or clinical guarantee is established.

Chapter breakdown

The Latin incipit is Miserere mei, Deus. The heading describes danger and distress; the inscription names David, the people removed from the sanctuary, a title's inscription and the Philistines holding him in Geth. He asks mercy because a man trod on him and fighting troubled him all day, with many warring against him. He says he shall fear at day's height but trust in God. He will praise his words in God, trust and not fear flesh's power. The separate note interprets his words as God's promises in his favor and explains danger even at noonday.

Enemies detested his words all day and thought evil. They will dwell and hide, watching his heel as they have waited for his soul. He asks whether God shall save them for nothing and asks that anger break people in pieces. The separate note explains no favor or assistance for any consideration and execution of justice. He has declared his life and set tears in God's sight and promise. Then enemies shall turn back on the day he calls, when he knows God as his God; no instant retreat is separately narrated.

He will praise word and speech in God and the Lord, hope and not fear human action. God's vows are in him and he will pay praises. He recalls delivery of his soul from death and feet from falling so he may please God in the light of the living. The closing delivery is recalled, whereas praise, payment and enemy retreat retain their future wording.

The story inside

Opening: The Latin incipit is Miserere mei, Deus. Development: The speaker’s petitions, recollections and future declarations retain their distinct wording. Conclusion: Edition interpretations remain separate from verse speech; no universal safety or clinical guarantee is established.

Lessons worth keeping

1
The Latin incipit is Miserere mei, Deus.
2
The speaker’s petitions, recollections and future declarations retain their distinct wording.
3
Edition interpretations remain separate from verse speech; no universal safety or clinical guarantee is established.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 60967–60971
From the height of the day I shall fear: but I will trust in thee. The height of the day.... That is, even at noonday, when the sun is the highest, I am still in danger.
Lines 60973–60974
In God I will praise my words, in God I have put my trust: I will not fear what flesh can do against me.
Lines 60981–60982
They will dwell and hide themselves: they will watch my heel. As they have waited for my soul,
Lines 60991–60992
I have declared to thee my life: thou hast set my tears in thy sight, As also in thy promise.
Lines 61003–61005
Because thou hast delivered my soul from death, my feet from falling: that I may please in the sight of God, in the light of the living.