Evening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress. He will hear my voice.
Parallel Translations
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Evening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress. He will hear my voice.
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Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
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(55-18) Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I complain, and moan; and He hath heard my voice.
Cross-references (21)
Passages linked to Psalms 55:17 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Ephesians 6:18 with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints:
- 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
- Psalms 141:2 Let my prayer be set before you like incense; the lifting up of my hands like the evening sacrifice.
- Acts 3:1 Peter and John were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
- Hebrews 5:7 He, in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and petitions with strong crying and tears to him who was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear,
- Psalms 119:147-148 I rise before dawn and cry for help. I put my hope in your words. My eyes stay open through the night watches, that I might meditate on your word.
- Daniel 6:10 When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his room toward Jerusalem) and he kneeled on his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did before.
- Mark 1:35 Early in the morning, while it was still dark, he rose up and went out, and departed into a deserted place, and prayed there.
- Acts 10:9 Now on the next day as they were on their journey, and got close to the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray at about noon.
- Psalms 92:2 to proclaim your loving kindness in the morning, and your faithfulness every night,
- Psalms 119:62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks to you, because of your righteous ordinances.
- Psalms 88:13 But to you, Yahweh, I have cried. In the morning, my prayer comes before you.
- Acts 10:30 Cornelius said, “Four days ago, I was fasting until this hour, and at the ninth hour, I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
- Psalms 5:2-3 Listen to the voice of my cry, my King and my God; for I pray to you. Yahweh, in the morning you will hear my voice. In the morning I will lay my requests before you, and will watch expectantly.
- Mark 6:46 After he had taken leave of them, he went up the mountain to pray.
- Acts 10:3 At about the ninth hour of the day, he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God coming to him, and saying to him, “Cornelius!”
- Daniel 6:13 Then they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, doesn’t respect you, O king, nor the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”
- Luke 18:1-7 He also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray, and not give up, saying, “There was a judge in a certain city who didn’t fear God, and didn’t respect man. A widow was in that city, and she often came to him, saying, ‘Defend me from my adversary!’ He wouldn’t for a while, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God, nor respect man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will defend her, or else she will wear me out by her continual coming.’ ” The Lord said, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge says. Won’t God avenge his chosen ones who are crying out to him day and night, and yet he exercises patience with them?
- Job 19:7 “Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard. I cry for help, but there is no justice.
- Lamentations 3:8 Yes, when I cry, and call for help, he shuts out my prayer.
- Mark 6:48 Seeing them distressed in rowing, for the wind was contrary to them, about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea, and he would have passed by them,
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (12 sources)
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain Which signifieth a fervent mind and sure trust to…
Which signifieth a fervent mind and sure trust to obtain his portion, which thing made him earnest at all times in prayer.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Psa 55:17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will…
Psa 55:17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
Ver. 17. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray] So Daniel prayed three times a day, Dan 6:10; and in the temple they prayed at the third, sixth, and ninth hour of the day. The saints set themselves certain hours to pray in (besides extraordinary occasions putting them upon that daily sacrifice), the better to arouse their spirits, and to keep constant intercourse with God. Papists have their set times; and Mahometans, whatever occasion they have, either by profit or pleasure, to divert them, will pray five times every day. This they do by form and custom, not by conscience: take we heed of those ordinary traitors, formality and customariness; it hath been bewailed before that many hold only a certain stint of daily duties (as malt-horses their pace, or mill-horses their round), and rest upon them when they have done, using the means as mediators, and so fall short, of Christ.
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And cry aloud] Rousing up myself, and wrestling with God, not in a customary, frigid, bedulling way; but with all intention of spirit and contention of speech.
And he shall hear my voice] How should he do otherwise, I coming upon him with such earnestness? Preces fundimus, coelum tundimus, misericordias extorquemus, saith those primitive Christians whose prayers came before God as the noise of many waters, Rev 14:2.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain The three stated times of prayer amongst the Jews.…
The three stated times of prayer amongst the Jews. See Dan 6:10; Act 3:1; 10:3,9,30.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain He hath delivered my soul in peace from the…
He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me,.... That is, God had preserved his life, and delivered him safe and sound from many a battle which was fought against him, and might seem at first to go against him; and had given him peace and rest from all his enemies before the present trouble came upon him, Sa2 7:1; wherefore he believed, that he who had delivered him in time past would deliver him again; this is the reasoning of faith, Co2 1:9. The Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions, render the last clause, "from them that draw nigh unto thee"; and the Syriac version renders it, by way of petition, "deliver my soul from them that know me"; and the Targum,
"lest evil should come unto me;''
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for there were many with me; either enemies fighting with him; and so this is mentioned to set forth the more the power of God in his deliverance: or friends, who were on his side; all Israel and Judah, who loved David and prayed for him, as Jarchi interprets it: or the angels of God, as Aben Ezra; who being for the Lord's people, are more than they that are against them, Kg2 6:16; or God, Father, Son, and Spirit; and if he is for us, who shall be against us? Rom 8:31. The Targum is,
"for in many afflictions his Word was for my help.''
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain Evening, &c. - The three stated times of prayer…
Evening, &c. - The three stated times of prayer among the Jews.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 17. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will…
Verse 17. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray] This was the custom of the pious Hebrews. See Da 6:10. The Hebrews began their day in the evening, and hence David mentions the evening first. The rabbins say, Men should pray three times each day, because the day changes three times. This was observed in the primitive Church; but the times, in different places, were various. The old Psalter gives this a curious turn: "At even I sall tel his louing (praise) what tim Crist was on the Crosse: and at morn I sall schew his louing, what tim he ros fra dede. And sua he sall here my voyce at mid day, that is sitand at the right hand of his fader, wheder he stegh (ascended) at mid day."
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray…
Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray - In another place Psa 119:164 the psalmist says that he engaged in acts of devotion seven times in a day. Daniel prayed three times a day, Dan 6:10. David went, in his troubles, before God evening, morning, and mid-day, in solemn, earnest prayer. So Paul, in a time of great distress, gave himself on three set occasions to earnest prayer for deliverance. See the notes at 2Co 12:8. This verse, therefore, does not prove that it was a regular habit of David to pray three times a day; but in view of the passage, it may be remarked
(a) that it is proper to have regular seasons for devotion, of frequent occurrence; and
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(b) that there are favorable and suitable times for devotion.
The morning and the evening are obviously appropriate; and it is well to divide the day also by prayer - to seek, at mid-day, the rest titan bodily and mental toil which is secured by communion with God - and to implore that strength which we need for the remaining duties of the day. True religion is cultivated by frequent and regular seasons of devotion.
And cry aloud - The word here employed properly means to murmur; to make a humming sound; to sigh; to growl; to groan. See the notes at Psa 42:5. Here the language means that he would give utterance to his deep feelings in appropriate tones - whether words, sighs, or groans. To the deep thoughts and sorrows of his soul he would often give suitable expression before God.
And he shall hear my voice - The confident language of faith, as in Psa 55:16.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 17. Evening, and morning, and at noon—Either at so…
17. Evening, and morning, and at noon—Either at so many stated times, as Dan_6:10, or poetically for continual prayer, as Psa_88:1; Eph_6:18
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 17. Evening, and morning, and at noon] Evening stands…
17. Evening, and morning, and at noon] Evening stands first because the day began at sunset. A reference to stated hours of prayer (cp. Dan_6:10; Act_10:9; Act_10:30) is hardly to be found in so natural an expression for “continuing stedfastly in prayer.”
will I pray, and cry aloud] R.V., will I complain and moan. Cp. Psa_55:2.
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and he shall hear] By an idiom which cannot be translated, the Psalmist speaks of this hearing as a present fact. So in Psa_55:18 he uses the ‘perfect of certainty,’ He hath redeemed, for the context makes it clear that deliverance has not actually reached him. In peace denotes the result: delivered me and placed me in safety.
from the battle that was against me] Better, with the Ancient Versions, that they should not come nigh me.
for there were many with me] According to this rendering the words may refer to the hosts of angels sent for his succour (2Ki_6:16; Psa_34:7); but the R.V. is doubtless right in rendering, for they were many (that strove) with me.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain Evening, and morning, (comp. Gen_1:5, Gen_1:8, etc.) and at…
Evening, and morning, (comp. Gen_1:5, Gen_1:8, etc.) and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud. From this passage and from Daniel"s conduct (Dan_6:10) we learn that devout Israelites habitually offered prayer to God at these three times of the day. The "morning and "evening" devotions were doubtless suggested by the law of the morning and evening sacrifice; (Exo_29:38-42) but the midday prayer, being nowhere commanded, can only be ascribed to natural piety. And he shall hear my voice. Constant unremitting prayer is certain of an answer. Compare the parable of the importunate friend. (Luk_11:5-8)
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Charles H. Spurgeon 1885 · Public Domain Ver. 17. Evening and morning, and at noon, will…
Ver. 17. Evening and morning, and at noon, will I pray. Often but none too often. Seasons of great need call for frequent seasons of devotion. The three periods chosen are most fitting; to begin, continue, and end the day with God is supreme wisdom. Where time has naturally set up a boundary, there let us set up an altar stone. The psalmist means that he will always pray; he will run a line of prayer right along the day, and track the sun with his petitions. Day and night he saw his enemies busy (Ps 55:10), and therefore he would meet their activity by continuous prayer.
And cry aloud. He would give a tongue to his complaint; he would be very earnest in his pleas with heaven. Some cry aloud who never say a word. It is the bell of the heart that rings loudest in heaven. Some read it, "I will nurse and murmur; "deep heart thoughts should be attended with inarticulate but vehement utterances of grief. Blessed be God, moaning is translatable in heaven. A father's heart reads a child's heart.
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And he shall hear my voice. He is confident that he will prevail; he makes no question that he would be heard, he speaks as if already he were answered. When our window is opened towards heaven, the windows of heaven are open to us. Have but a pleading heart and God will have a plenteous hand.
Ver. 17. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray. This was the custom of the pious Hebrews. See Da 6:10. The Hebrews began their day in the evening, and hence David mentions the evening first. The rabbins say, men should pray three times each day because the day changes three times. This was observed in the primitive church; but the times in different places were various. The old Psalter gives this a curious turn: "At even I sall tell his louing (praise) what the Christ was on the Crosse; and at morn I sall schew his louing, what tim he ros fra dede. And sua he sall here my voice at midday, that is sitand at the right hand of his fader, wheder he stegh (ascended) at midday." Adam Clarke.
Ver. 17. Evening and morning, etc. The three principle parts of the day are mentioned, not as marking special times set apart for prayer, but as a poetical expression for "the whole day, ""at all times, ""without ceasing." J. J. Stewart Perowne.
Ver. 17. If our poor, frail bodies need refreshment from food three times a day, who, that knows his own weakness, will say that we need not as frequent refreshment for our poor frail spirits? William S. Plumer, 1867.
Ver. 17. I can no more believe him to be frequent and spiritual in ejaculatory prayer, who neglects the season of solemn prayer, than I can believe that he keeps every day in the week a Sabbath, who neglects to keep that one which God hath appointed. William Gurnall, 1617-1679.
Ver. 17. There is no limited time in the court of heaven for hearing petitions. It is not like the court of earthly princes, for there is a free access any day of the week, any hour of the day, or the night, any minute of the hour. As the lawyer saith of the king, for having his due, Nullum tempus occurrit regi: so may I say of the godly, for making his prayers and granting his requests, Nullum tempus occurrit fidelibus, no time unseasonable, so the heart be seasoned with faith; no non term in God's court of requests. He keeps continually open house for all comers and goers; and indeed, most for comers, then goers. His eyes are always open to behold our tears; his ears are always open to hear our groans; his heart also and his bowels are always open, and never shut up so fast, but they will yearn and turn within him, if our misery be never so little. For as we have not an High Priest to pray by "that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; "so neither have we a God to pray to, that shall see us in distress, and hear us call and cry, and never be moved. Zachary Bogan (1625-1659), in "Meditations of the Mirth of a Christian Life."
Ver. 17. And cry aloud. The word here employed properly means to murmur; to make a humming sound; to sigh; to growl; to groan. Here the language means that he would give utterance to his deep feelings in appropriate tones--whether words, sighs, or groans. Albert Barnes.
Ver. 17. And he shall hear. And what will this loud cry obtain? A hearing without doubt, so he assures himself, He shall hear me. Not that God hears any prayers whether he will or no (as men sometimes do that upon importunity which they have no mind to), but he hath no will, no mind not to hear such prayers, the prayers of those who cry aloud to him. Joseph Caryl, 1602-1673.
Ver. 17.
1. David will pray fervently; I will pray and cry aloud.
2. He will pray frequently; every day, and three times a day, evening, and morning, and at noon. Matthew Henry.
Psalms 55:18*
Charles H. Spurgeon's The Treasury of David (1869–1885) — public domain. Psalms only. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray,…
Psa_55:17
Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice.
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Prayer
I. The nature of our prayer. Prayer is the humble expression of our wants and of our desires to Almighty God; and it comprehends, at least, the following particulars.
1. Prayer is an acknowledgment of the being and of the providence of God; He that cometh to God must believe that He is;--an expression of our dependence upon God; and a profession of our belief in His omnipotence, goodness, grace, and bounty--that He is the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
2. Prayer re-establishes communion between God and man. It opens and maintains intercourse with the skies.
3. Prayer is the grand means by which we obtain our spiritual blessings from the hands of God.
4. But nothing is real prayer except it arise sincerely from the heart, and is presented through Jesus Christ, the Mediator between God and man, accompanied at all times by a measure of faith (Joh_14:6; Jam_1:6-7).
II. In the manner in which the author of our text performed this duty. This was distinguished by fervour, regularity, and frequency.
1. Fervour in prayer is the earnest manner in which we breathe out our desires to God; not so much the strength of the voice, as the ardour of the soul (Rom_8:26).
2. Regularity was associated with the psalmists performance of this duty. He had stated times for prayer. And do not creatures, circumstanced as we are, need every help?
3. Frequency is another thing signified. (Sketches of Four Hundred Sermons.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.