55:1 55:1

Psalms 55:2

55:3 55:3

Bible Versions

Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;
Attend {H7181}{H8685)} unto me, and hear {H6030}{H8798)} me: I mourn {H7300}{H8686)} in my complaint {H7879}, and make a noise {H1949}{H8686)};
Pay attention to me, and answer me! I am panic-stricken as I make my complaint, I shudder
Attend to me and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and distraught
Attend unto me, and answer me: I am restless in my complaint, and moan,

Psalm 55:2 opens with a raw, earnest plea from the psalmist, believed to be King David, revealing a heart overwhelmed with distress and seeking immediate divine attention. The verse captures the intense emotional state of someone crying out to God from a place of profound anguish.

Context

Psalm 55 is a powerful psalm of lament, marked by themes of betrayal, fear, and a desperate longing for peace and deliverance from enemies. David's plea in verse 2 immediately sets the tone for the psalm, indicating his deep personal suffering, likely exacerbated by the treachery of a close companion, as hinted at later in the chapter (Psalm 55:13). This verse is a direct address to God, emphasizing the psalmist's reliance on divine intervention amidst his turmoil.

Key Themes

  • Desperate Appeal to God: The opening phrase, "Attend unto me, and hear me," is not a casual request but an urgent, heartfelt cry for God's immediate and undivided attention. It reflects the psalmist's conviction that God is his ultimate refuge and hope.
  • Unrestrained Expression of Grief: The phrases "I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise" vividly portray a profound, unrestrained sorrow. This is not quiet suffering but an audible, even agitated, expression of pain and deep distress, suggesting that the burden is too heavy to bear silently.
  • Honesty in Prayer: This verse highlights the biblical precedent for being completely honest and transparent with God about one's feelings, even when those feelings are messy or loud. It assures believers that God welcomes genuine, unedited expressions of human suffering.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew words used in this verse convey a powerful sense of distress:

  • "Attend unto me" (Hebrew: 'āzan - אָזַן): This word means more than just to hear; it implies to "give ear," "listen intently," or "heed." It suggests a desire for God not just to perceive the sound, but to truly comprehend and respond to the psalmist's plight.
  • "I mourn" (Hebrew: 'ahida - אֶהִידָה): This term can mean to wander, to groan, or to complain. It points to a restless, agitated state of sorrow, perhaps even pacing in distress.
  • "and make a noise" (Hebrew: ve'ahima - וְאָהִימָה): This word means to moan, to rage, to make a commotion, or to be in turmoil. It describes an audible, guttural sound of anguish, a stark expression of intense suffering that cannot be contained. This raw cry is reminiscent of other psalms where the psalmist expresses deep lament, such as in Psalm 6:6, where David is weary with groaning.

Cross-References & Connections

The psalmist's plea for God to "attend" and "hear" is a common theme throughout the Psalms, reflecting a consistent belief in God's attentiveness to His people's cries. Similar expressions of urgent prayer and distress can be found in:

  • Psalm 102:1: "Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee."
  • Psalm 130:1-2: "Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD. Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications."
  • The assurance that God does indeed hear such cries is often given, as in Psalm 34:17: "The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles."

Practical Application

Psalm 55:2 offers profound encouragement for believers today:

  1. Permission to Lament: It validates expressing intense emotions, including sorrow, anger, and distress, directly to God. We are not expected to suppress our true feelings but are invited to bring our "complaints" and "noise" before Him.
  2. God's Accessibility: It reminds us that God is not distant but attentive to our prayers, even when they are raw and desperate. He is a Father who listens to the cries of His children.
  3. Honesty in Prayer: The verse encourages a radical honesty in our prayer life. There is no need to sanitize our pain or pretend to be stronger than we are. God desires authentic communication, and He can handle our deepest anguish.
  4. Trust in His Listening Ear: Despite the overwhelming circumstances, the psalmist's act of crying out demonstrates an underlying trust that God is capable of hearing and responding to his distress. We too can trust in God's throne of grace, knowing we will find help in time of need.
Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Isaiah 38:14

    Like a crane [or] a swallow, so did I chatter: I did mourn as a dove: mine eyes fail [with looking] upward: O LORD, I am oppressed; undertake for me.

  • Psalms 66:19

    [But] verily God hath heard [me]; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.

  • Psalms 64:1

    ¶ To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.

  • Psalms 77:3

    I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.

  • Psalms 43:2

    For thou [art] the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

  • Isaiah 59:11

    We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but [there is] none; for salvation, [but] it is far off from us.

  • Psalms 102:9

    For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,
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