The Meaning of Psalms 55:2 Explained

Psalms 55:2

KJV: Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;

YLT: Attend to me, and answer me, I mourn in my meditation, and make a noise,

Darby: Attend unto me, and answer me: I wander about in my plaint, and I moan aloud,

ASV: Attend unto me, and answer me: I am restless in my complaint, and moan,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Attend  unto me, and hear  me: I mourn  in my complaint,  and make a noise; 

What does Psalms 55:2 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 55:1-11 - Fleeing The City's Ills
This psalm was suggested by Absalom's rebellion and Ahithophel's treachery. But it contains references which, in their full extent, are chiefly applicable to Judas' treatment of our Lord. The terrors of the unseen, the stealthy tread of the assassin, the treachery of a friend, the drawn sword under unctuous speech-such were the bitter ingredients mingled for this deeply-tried soul. But we have all known something of his disappointment and anguish, and have longed for the swift wings of a dove to escape to the bosom of God.
One of the Puritans says: "My Spouse is ascended higher than the highest heavens, and I, poor soul, am left desolate and disconsolate in this valley of tears. The weight of my weakness and my sins doth so clog and shackle me, so glue and nail me to the earth, that I cannot rise. Let Him descend and give me wings whereby I may ascend." Who will give-humility. Who will give wings-celerity. Like a dove-innocence. Fly away-aspirations to the Lord, "whom having not seen, we love." Rest-permanent security. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 55

1  David in his prayer complains of his fearful case
9  He prays against his enemies, of whose wickedness and treachery he complains
16  He comforts himself in God's preservation oh him, and confusion of his enemies

What do the individual words in Psalms 55:2 mean?

Attend to me and hear me I am restless in my complaint and moan noisily
הַקְשִׁ֣יבָה לִּ֣י וַעֲנֵ֑נִי אָרִ֖יד בְּשִׂיחִ֣י וְאָהִֽימָה

הַקְשִׁ֣יבָה  Attend 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: קָשַׁב  
Sense: to hear, be attentive, heed, incline (of ears), attend (of ears), hearken, pay attention, listen.
לִּ֣י  to  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
וַעֲנֵ֑נִי  and  hear  me 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: לְעַנּׄות 
Sense: to answer, respond, testify, speak, shout.
אָרִ֖יד  I  am  restless 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: רוּד  
Sense: to wander restlessly, roam.
בְּשִׂיחִ֣י  in  my  complaint 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: שִׂיחַ  
Sense: meditation, complaint, musing.
וְאָהִֽימָה  and  moan  noisily 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative, first person common singular
Root: הוּם  
Sense: to distract, ring again, make a (great) noise, murmur, roar, discomfit, be moved.