King James Version

Psalms 55:9

Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

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 55:10.

בַּלַּ֣עbaladestroyבָּלַעverb, piel, imperative, 2nd person, masculine, singular — “destroy”, a commandH1104to make away with (specifically by swallowing); generally, to destroycover, destroy, devour, eat up, be at end, spend up, swallow down (up).אֲ֭דֹנָיadonayLordאֲדֹנָיnoun, common, masculine, plural, construct, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “Lord”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH136the Lord (used as a proper name of God only)(my) Lord.פַּלַּ֣גpalagdivideפָּלַגverb, piel, imperative, 2nd person, masculine, singular — “divide”, a commandH6385to split (literally or figuratively)divide.לְשׁוֹנָ֑םleshonamtongueלָשׁוֹןnoun, common, both genders, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, plural — “tongue”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH3956the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of water)[phrase] babbler, bay, [phrase] evil speaker, language, talker, tongue, wedge.כִּֽיkiassuredכִּיconjunction — “assured”H3588(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexedand, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + til…רָאִ֨יתִיraitiseeרָאָהverb, qal, perfect, 1st person, common, singular — “see”, a completed actionH7200to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), m…חָמָ֖סchamasviolenceחָמָסnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “violence”, the ordinary formH2555violence; by implication, wrong; by meton. unjust gaincruel(-ty), damage, false, injustice, [idiom] oppressor, unrighteous, violence (against, done), violent (dealing), wrong.וְרִ֣יבverivand causeרִיבconjunction, noun, common, both genders, singular, absolute — “and cause”, the ordinary formH7379a contest (personal or legal)[phrase] adversary, cause, chiding, contend(-tion), controversy, multitude (from the margin), pleading, strife, strive(-ing), suit.בָּעִֽירbairin cityעִירpreposition, with the article, noun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “in city”, the ordinary formH5892a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

(55-10) Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongue; for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

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

American Standard Version (1901)

Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongue; For I have seen violence and strife in the city.

Young’s Literal Translation

Swallow up, O Lord, divide their tongue, For I saw violence and strife in a city.

World English Bible

Confuse them, Lord, and confound their language, for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

Darby Translation

Swallow [them] up, Lord; divide their tongue: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

Douay-Rheims

I have declared to thee my life: thou hast set my tears in thy sight, As also in thy promise.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

(55-10) Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongue; for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen iniquity and gainsaying in the city.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Καταπόντισον Κύριε καὶ καταδίελε τὰς γλώσσας αὐτῶν, ὅτι εἶδον ἀνομίαν καὶ ἀντιλογίαν ἐν τῇ πόλει.