What does Psalms 55:15 mean?
"Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them." - Psalms 55:15

The Bible verse Psalms 55:15 in the King James Version (KJV) states: "Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them." This verse is part of a larger passage in which the psalmist, David, expresses his distress and bitterness at the betrayal of a close friend. The verse expresses a strong desire for justice and retribution against those who have wronged the psalmist.
The verse begins with a plea for death to seize upon the enemies of the psalmist. This is a powerful expression of the psalmist's frustration and anger, as he longs for God to intervene and bring about judgment on those who have betrayed him. The use of the word "seize" conveys a sense of urgency and desperation, as the psalmist petitions for swift and decisive punishment for those who have caused him harm.
The second part of the verse speaks of the enemies going down "quick into hell" because of the wickedness in their dwellings. This imagery is meant to convey the severity of the psalmist's wish for retribution. The phrase "quick into hell" suggests a sudden and irreversible descent into the depths of damnation, emphasizing the psalmist's desire for swift and severe judgment upon his enemies. The reference to "wickedness in their dwellings" further highlights the depth of the enemies' wrongdoing, emphasizing the righteousness of the psalmist's plea for justice.
The themes present in this verse are those of justice, righteousness, and the struggle with betrayal. The psalmist is grappling with the pain of being betrayed by someone close to him and is seeking divine intervention to bring about justice and retribution for the wrongs that have been committed against him. This theme of justice is a central tenet of the Christian faith, as believers look to God as the ultimate source of justice and righteousness in a world filled with sin and betrayal.
The context of this verse is important in understanding its significance within the larger psalm. In the preceding verses, the psalmist describes the anguish and distress he feels at the betrayal of a close friend. He laments the pain of being betrayed by someone he once trusted and seeks solace in God, expressing his confidence in God's ability to bring about justice and vindication. This verse is a culmination of the psalmist's plea for justice and serves as a powerful expression of his desire for God to act on his behalf.
Symbolically, this verse represents the universal struggle with injustice and the longing for divine retribution. The psalmist's cry for death to seize upon his enemies and for them to go down quick into hell is a dramatic and evocative expression of his yearning for justice in the face of betrayal and wickedness. This verse serves as a reminder of the human tendency to seek justice and retribution when wronged, and the need to place our trust in God as the ultimate arbiter of justice.
In conclusion, Psalms 55:15 in the King James Version is a powerful and evocative verse that expresses the psalmist's fervent plea for divine justice and retribution in the face of betrayal and wickedness. The themes of justice, righteousness, and the struggle with betrayal are central to the verse, and its context within the larger psalm adds depth and significance to the psalmist's impassioned plea. As believers, we can find comfort and hope in the psalmist's trust in God's ability to bring about justice and vindication, even in the face of betrayal and wickedness.
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Psalms 55:15 - "Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them."
"Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them." - Psalms 55:15
Psalms 55:1 - "Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication."
"I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest." - Psalms 55:8
Psalms 55:13 - "But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance."
"Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me." - Psalms 55:5
"Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah." - Psalms 55:7
Psalms 55:8 - "I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest."
Psalms 55:7 - "Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah."
Psalms 55:5 - "Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me."
Psalms 55:16 - "As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me."
Psalms 55:11 - "Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets."
Psalms 55:10 - "Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it."
Psalms 55:4 - "My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me."
Psalms 55:14 - "We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company."
"Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;" - Psalms 55:2
Psalms 55:9 - "Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city."
Psalms 55:2 - "Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;"
Psalms 119:55 - "I have remembered thy name, O LORD, in the night, and have kept thy law."
Psalms 55:17 - "Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice."
Psalms 55:3 - "Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me."
Psalms 55:18 - "He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me."
Psalms 55:6 - "And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest."
Psalms 55:20 - "He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant."
Psalms 78:55 - "He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents."
Psalms 55:19 - "God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God."
Psalms 55:22 - "Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."
"But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance." - Psalms 55:13
Psalms 55:21 - "The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords."
Joshua 15:55 - "Maon, Carmel, and Ziph, and Juttah,"