· Translation: KJV

Psalms 55:1Listen to my prayer, God. Don't hide yourself from my supplication.

The setting

Jerusalem, Israel, ~1005 BC. David's palace, late at night. His son Absalom is plotting rebellion, and his trusted counselor Ahithophel has joined the conspiracy.

The emotion here: desperate and feeling abandoned by both God and friends

The original word

qashab (קָשַׁב) — to prick up the ears, listen intently like an animal hearing danger

Why it matters

This psalm was written during Absalom's rebellion when David's own advisor betrayed him

Read with care

What most readers miss in Psalms 55:1

David isn't just asking God to hear — he's begging God to PAY ATTENTION, as if God is distracted

Common misconceptionMany think this shows lack of faith, but Scripture records these raw prayers as examples — honest desperation is not spiritual failure.

Bible Genome reading

Psalms 55:1 — Bible Genome reading

SpeakerDavid
EraUnited Kingdom
Primary emotionseeking
Literary typepsalm
MarkPrayer

Emotional genome

Comfort power70%
Quotability80%
Memorability80%
Crisis relevance90%
Standalone80%
Themes:prayerseekingdesperation

In context

No verse stands alone.

Read the conversation around it.

Open Psalms 55

Psalms 55:1 comes from the book of Psalms, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to David. The dominant emotion in this verse is seeking, with a comfort power of 70% and a tone that is urgent. It belongs to the psalm genre of biblical literature. Key themes include prayer, seeking, desperation. Notable phrases: Listen to my prayer; Don't hide yourself. This verse is a prayer.

Your reflection

What does Psalms 55:1 mean to you, today?

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