King James Version

Psalms 55:1

Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.

Study

Hebrew

Tap a word to see its meaning. Words run left to right in English reading order.

In the Hebrew text this line is Psalms 55:2. The heading is Hebrew Psalms 55:1.

Heading in the Hebrew text

לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַlamnatsechato excelנָצַחpreposition, with the article, verb, piel, participle, absolute — “to excel”, a verb used as a describing wordH5329properly, to glitter from afar, i.e. to be eminent (as a superintendent, especially of the Temple services and its music); to be permanentexcel, chief musician (singer), oversee(-r), set forward.בִּנְגִינֹ֗תbinginotin stringed instrumentנְגִינָהpreposition, noun, common, feminine, plural, absolute — “in stringed instrument”, the ordinary formH5058properly, instrumental music; by implication, a stringed instrument; by extension, a poem set to music; specifically, an epigramstringed instrument, musick, Neginoth (plural), song.מַשְׂכִּ֥ילmaskilMaschilמַשְׂכִּילnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “Maschil”, the ordinary formH4905instructive, i.e. a didactic poemMaschil.לְדָוִֽדledavidto Davidדָּוִדpreposition, noun, proper name — “to David”H1732David, the youngest son of JesseDavid.

הַאֲזִ֣ינָהhaazinahgive earאָזַןverb, hiphil, imperative, 2nd person, masculine, singular, paragogic he — “give ear”, a commandH238to broaden out the ear (with the hand), i.e. (by implication) to listengive (perceive by the) ear, hear(-ken). See H239 (אָזַן).אֱ֭לֹהִיםelohimGodאֱלֹהִיםnoun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “God”, the ordinary formH430gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlativeangels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.תְּפִלָּתִ֑יtefilatiprayerתְּפִלָּהnoun, common, feminine, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “prayer”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH8605intercession, supplication; by implication, a hymnprayer.וְאַלvealand notאַלconjunction, particle, negative — “and not”H408not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun, nothingnay, neither, [phrase] never, no, nor, not, nothing (worth), rather than.תִּ֝תְעַלַּ֗םtitalamblindעָלַםverb, hithpael, jussive, 2nd person, masculine, singular — “blind”, a wish or indirect commandH5956to veil from sight, i.e. conceal (literally or figuratively)[idiom] any ways, blind, dissembler, hide (self), secret (thing).מִתְּחִנָּתִֽיmitchinatifrom favourתְּחִנָּהpreposition, noun, common, feminine, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “from favour”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH8467graciousness; causatively, entreatyfavour, grace, supplication.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

(55-1) For the Leader; with string-music. Maschil of David. (55-2) Give ear, O God, to my prayer; and hide not Thyself from my supplication.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

Give ear to my prayer, O God; And hide not thyself from my supplication.

Young’s Literal Translation

To the Overseer with stringed instruments. — An instruction, by David. Give ear, O God, [to] my prayer, And hide not from my supplication.

World English Bible

Listen to my prayer, God. Don’t hide yourself from my supplication.

Darby Translation

Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.

Douay-Rheims

Unto the end, for a people that is removed at a distance from the sanctuary for David, for an inscription of a title (or pillar) when the Philistines held him in Geth.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

(55-1) For the Leader; with string-music. Maschil of David. (55-2) Give ear, O God, to my prayer; and hide not Thyself from my supplication.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

Hearken, O God, to my prayer; and disregard not my supplication.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ἐνωτίσαι ὁ Θεὸς τὴν προσευχήν μου, καὶ μὴ ὑπερίδῃς τὴν δέησίν μου·