Psalm 55:1
55:1 To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, [A Psalm] of
     David. Give ear to {a} my prayer, O God; and hide not
     thyself from my supplication.

     (a) The earnestness of his prayer declares the vehemency of
         his grief in so much as he is compelled to burst out
         into cries.

Psalm 55:3
55:3 Because of the {b} voice of the enemy, because of the
     oppression of the wicked: for {c} they cast iniquity upon
     me, and in wrath they hate me.

     (b) For the threatenings of Saul and his adherents.
     (c) They have defamed me as a wicked person, or they have
         imagined my destruction.

Psalm 55:5
55:5 Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath
     {d} overwhelmed me.

     (d) There was no part of him that was not astonished with
         extreme fear.

Psalm 55:6
55:6 And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! [for then]
     would I {e} fly away, and be at rest.

     (e) Fear had driven him to so great distress, that he
         wished to be hid in some wilderness, and to be banished
         from that kingdom which God had promised that he should
         enjoy.

Psalm 55:8
55:8 I would hasten my escape {f} from the windy storm [and]
     tempest.

     (f) From the cruel rage and tyranny of Saul.

Psalm 55:9
55:9 Destroy, O Lord, [and] {g} divide their tongues: for I have
     seen violence and strife in the city.

     (g) As in the confusion of Babylon when the wicked
         conspired against God.

Psalm 55:10
55:10 Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: {h}
      mischief also and sorrow [are] in the midst of it.

      (h) All laws and good orders are broken and only vice and
          dissolution reigns under Saul.

Psalm 55:12
55:12 For [it was] not an {i} enemy [that] reproached me; then I
      could have borne [it]: neither [was it] he that hated me
      [that] did magnify [himself] against me; then I would have
      hid myself from him:

      (i) If my open enemy had sought by hurt, I could better
          have avoided him.

Psalm 55:13
55:13 But [it was] thou, a man mine {k} equal, my guide, and
      mine acquaintance.

      (k) Who was not only joined to me in friendship and
          counsel in worldly matters, but also in religion.

Psalm 55:15
55:15 Let death seize upon them, [and] let them {l} go down
      quick into hell: for wickedness [is] in their dwellings,
      [and] among them.

      (l) As Korah, Dathan and Abiram.

Psalm 55:17
55:17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, {m} and
      cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

      (m) Which signifies a servants mind and sure trust to
          obtain his portion, which made him earnest at all
          times in prayer.

Psalm 55:18
55:18 He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle [that
      was] against me: for there were {n} many with me.

      (n) Even the angels of God fought on my side against my
          enemies, 2 Kings 6:16.

Psalm 55:19
55:19 God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of
      old.  Selah. Because they {o} have no changes, therefore
      they fear not God.

      (o) But their prosperous estate still continues.

Psalm 55:20
55:20 He {p} hath put forth his hands against such as be at
      peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.

      (p) I did not provoke him but was as at peace with him,
          yet he made war against me.

Psalm 55:22
55:22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee:
      he shall {q} never suffer the righteous to be moved.

      (q) Though for their bettering and trial, he permits them
          to slip for a time.

Psalm 55:23
55:23 But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of
      destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out
      {r} half their days; but I will trust in thee.

      (r) Though they sometimes live longer, yet their life is
          cursed by God, unquiet, and worse than any death.