Psalm 55:23
New International Version
But you, God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of decay; the bloodthirsty and deceitful will not live out half their days. But as for me, I trust in you.

New Living Translation
But you, O God, will send the wicked down to the pit of destruction. Murderers and liars will die young, but I am trusting you to save me.

English Standard Version
But you, O God, will cast them down into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in you.

Berean Standard Bible
But You, O God, will bring them down to the Pit of destruction; men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You.

King James Bible
But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.

New King James Version
But You, O God, shall bring them down to the pit of destruction; Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; But I will trust in You.

New American Standard Bible
But You, God, will bring them down to the pit of destruction; Men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You.

NASB 1995
But You, O God, will bring them down to the pit of destruction; Men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You.

NASB 1977
But Thou, O God, wilt bring them down to the pit of destruction; Men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in Thee.

Legacy Standard Bible
But You, O God, will bring them down to the pit of corruption; Men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You.

Amplified Bible
But You, O God, will bring down the wicked to the pit of destruction; Men of blood and treachery will not live out half their days. But I will [boldly and unwaveringly] trust in You.

Christian Standard Bible
God, you will bring them down to the Pit of destruction; men of bloodshed and treachery will not live out half their days. But I will trust in you.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
God, You will bring them down to the Pit of destruction; men of bloodshed and treachery will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You.

American Standard Version
But thou, O God, wilt bring them down into the pit of destruction: Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; But I will trust in thee.

Contemporary English Version
But what about those people who are cruel and brutal? You will throw them down into the deepest pit long before their time. I trust you, LORD!

English Revised Version
But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But you, O God, will throw [wicked people]into the deepest pit. Bloodthirsty and deceitful people will not live out half their days. But I will trust you.

Good News Translation
But you, O God, will bring those murderers and liars to their graves before half their life is over. As for me, I will trust in you.

International Standard Version
But you, God, bring them down to the Pit of corruption; bloodthirsty and deceitful people will not live out half their days. But I put my full confidence in you.

Majority Standard Bible
But You, O God, will bring them down to the Pit of destruction; men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You.

NET Bible
But you, O God, will bring them down to the deep Pit. Violent and deceitful people will not live even half a normal lifespan. But as for me, I trust in you.

New Heart English Bible
But you, God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction. Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days, but I will trust in you.

Webster's Bible Translation
But thou, O God, wilt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.

World English Bible
But you, God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction. Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days, but I will trust in you.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And You, O God, bring them down "" To a pit of destruction, "" Men of blood and deceit do not reach to half their days, "" And I trust in You!

Young's Literal Translation
And Thou, O God, dost bring them down To a pit of destruction, Men of blood and deceit reach not to half their days, And I -- I do trust in Thee!

Smith's Literal Translation
And thou, O God, wilt bring them down to the well of destruction: men of bloods and deceit shall not halve their days; and I will trust in thee.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction. Bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee, O Lord.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Truly, O God, you will lead them away into the well of death. Bloody and deceitful men will not divide their days in half. But I will hope in you, O Lord.

New American Bible
But you, God, will bring them down to the pit of destruction. These bloodthirsty liars will not live half their days, but I put my trust in you.

New Revised Standard Version
But you, O God, will cast them down into the lowest pit; the bloodthirsty and treacherous shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in you.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction; bloody and deceitful men shall not live out their days; but I will trust in thee.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
But you, God, have sent them down to the pit of destruction: men, shedders of blood and deceitful deceivers, and they shall not fulfill their days and I shall trust in you.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But Thou, O God, wilt bring them down into the nethermost pit; Men of blood and deceit shall not live out half their days; But as for me, I will trust in Thee.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But thou, O God, shalt bring them down to the pit of destruction; bloody and crafty men shall not live out half their days; but I will hope in thee, O Lord.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Cast Your Burden upon the LORD
22Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken. 23But You, O God, will bring them down to the Pit of destruction; men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You.

Cross References
1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Matthew 11:28-30
Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. / Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. / For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Isaiah 57:21
“There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”

James 4:6
But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it.

Romans 12:19
Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”

Galatians 6:7-8
Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return. / The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

2 Thessalonians 1:6
After all, it is only right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,

Hebrews 10:30
For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge His people.”

Job 18:5-21
Indeed, the lamp of the wicked is extinguished; the flame of his fire does not glow. / The light in his tent grows dark, and the lamp beside him goes out. / His vigorous stride is shortened, and his own schemes trip him up. ...

Proverbs 11:21
Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will escape.

Isaiah 3:11
Woe to the wicked; disaster is upon them! For they will be repaid with what their hands have done.

Ezekiel 18:20
The soul who sins is the one who will die. A son will not bear the iniquity of his father, and a father will not bear the iniquity of his son. The righteousness of the righteous man will fall upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked man will fall upon him.

Nahum 1:3
The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. His path is in the whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust beneath His feet.


Treasury of Scripture

But you, O God, shall bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in you.

O God

Psalm 7:15,16
He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made…

Psalm 58:9
Before your pots can feel the thorns, he shall take them away as with a whirlwind, both living, and in his wrath.

Psalm 59:12,13
For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak…

pit

Proverbs 15:11
Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?

Proverbs 27:20
Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

Isaiah 38:17
Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.

Psalm 5:6
Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.

2 Samuel 3:27
And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

2 Samuel 20:9,10
And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him…

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Blood Bloodshed Bloodthirsty Bloody Cast Chief Confide Corruption Cruel Cut David Deceit Deceitful Destruction Ended False. Gath Half Live Michtam Musician Nethermost Philistines Pit Psalm Reach Treachery Trust Underworld Wicked Wilt
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Blood Bloodshed Bloodthirsty Bloody Cast Chief Confide Corruption Cruel Cut David Deceit Deceitful Destruction Ended False. Gath Half Live Michtam Musician Nethermost Philistines Pit Psalm Reach Treachery Trust Underworld Wicked Wilt
Psalm 55
1. David in his prayer complains of his fearful case
9. He prays against his enemies, of whose wickedness and treachery he complains
16. He comforts himself in God's preservation oh him, and confusion of his enemies














But You, O God
This phrase begins with a direct address to God, emphasizing His sovereignty and power. The Hebrew word for God here is "Elohim," which denotes majesty and authority. It is a reminder of God's supreme position over all creation and His ability to intervene in human affairs. The psalmist contrasts the faithfulness and justice of God with the treachery of men, highlighting the divine assurance that God is actively involved in the lives of His people.

will bring them down
The phrase "will bring them down" suggests a decisive action by God against the wicked. The Hebrew root "yarad" means to descend or bring down, often used in contexts of judgment or defeat. This conveys the certainty of divine justice, where God will ensure that those who commit evil will face consequences. It reassures believers that God is not indifferent to injustice and will act in His perfect timing.

to the pit of destruction
The "pit of destruction" is a vivid metaphor for ruin and ultimate defeat. The Hebrew word "shachath" refers to a grave or a place of corruption. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the pit was often associated with Sheol, the realm of the dead. This imagery underscores the finality and severity of God's judgment on the wicked, serving as a warning to those who live in opposition to His ways.

men of bloodshed and deceit
This phrase identifies the specific targets of God's judgment—those who commit violence and practice deceit. The Hebrew words "damim" (bloodshed) and "mirmah" (deceit) highlight the moral corruption and treachery of these individuals. Throughout Scripture, God consistently condemns violence and dishonesty, aligning with His nature as a God of truth and justice. This serves as a call for believers to pursue righteousness and integrity.

will not live out half their days
This expression indicates a premature end to the lives of the wicked. The idea of not living out "half their days" suggests divine retribution that cuts short their lifespan. It reflects the biblical principle that sin leads to death and that those who persist in evil will face temporal and eternal consequences. This serves as both a warning to the wicked and a comfort to the righteous, affirming that God will uphold justice.

But I will trust in You
The psalmist concludes with a personal declaration of faith. The Hebrew word "batach" means to trust or have confidence, signifying a deep reliance on God's character and promises. This statement of trust contrasts with the fate of the wicked, highlighting the security and peace found in a relationship with God. It encourages believers to place their confidence in God, regardless of the circumstances, knowing that He is faithful and just.

Verse 23. - But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction. We must understand by "them" the ungodly, the thought of whom is associated with that of the righteous by the law of contrast. While God sustains and supports the righteous, he "brings down" and crushes the ungodly. The "pit of destruction" is the grave. Bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days (comp. Jeremiah 17:1). Of course, the statement is not intended for a universal law, and indeed was probably pointed especially at the "bloody and deceitful men" of whom the psalmist had been speaking. The suicide of Ahithophel, and the slaughter of Absalom with so many of his followers, furnished a striking commentary on the statement. But I will trust in thee; i.e. but I, for my part, will put no trust in violence or deceit - I will trust in nothing and no one but God (comp. Psalm 7:1; Psalm 11:1, etc.).



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But You,
וְאַתָּ֤ה (wə·’at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

O God,
אֱלֹהִ֨ים ׀ (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

will bring them down
תּוֹרִדֵ֬ם ׀ (tō·w·ri·ḏêm)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3381: To come or go down, descend

to the Pit
לִבְאֵ֬ר (liḇ·’êr)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 875: A pit, a well

of destruction;
שַׁ֗חַת (ša·ḥaṯ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 7845: A pit, destruction

men
אַנְשֵׁ֤י (’an·šê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 582: Man, mankind

of bloodshed
דָמִ֣ים (ḏā·mîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1818: Blood, of man, an animal, the juice of the grape, bloodshed

and deceit
וּ֭מִרְמָה (ū·mir·māh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4820: Deceit, treachery

will not
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

live out half
יֶחֱצ֣וּ (ye·ḥĕ·ṣū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 2673: To cut, split in two, to halve

their days.
יְמֵיהֶ֑ם (yə·mê·hem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3117: A day

But I
וַ֝אֲנִ֗י (wa·’ă·nî)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

will trust
אֶבְטַח־ (’eḇ·ṭaḥ-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 982: To trust, be confident, sure

in You.
בָּֽךְ׃ (bāḵ)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew


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OT Poetry: Psalm 55:23 But you God will bring them down (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 55:22
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