Psalm 55:17

Psalm 55:17, in plain English

David isn't praying once and waiting—he's continuously crying out, all day long, at every hour. And God hears him every time.

Why it's here

The repetition matters. Morning, noon, and night represents the whole day—the entire rhythm of life. David's distress is continuous, and so is his prayer.

Who's speaking

David, testifying to the constancy of God's hearing

Where it sits in the story

Jesus teaches this same principle: ask and keep asking, knock and keep knocking. God doesn't get tired of hearing you; He promises to listen.

The scholarly reading

The psalmist emphasizes the constancy of his prayer and God's constancy in answering—he cries out at all hours and God hears.

Language and setting

The triadic temporal formula—'Morning, noon, and night' (עֶרֶב וָבֹקֶר וְצָהֳרַיִם, 'erev wā-boqer wĕ-ṣāhŏ-rayim)—indicates continuous, unceasing prayer. The verb 'cry out in distress' (אָשִׁיחָה וְאֶנְהֵמָה, 'āšîḥâ wĕ-'en-hēmâ) suggests both vocal complaint and inarticulate groaning—the full range of human petition. God's responsiveness 'He hears my voice' (וְיִשְׁמַע קוֹלִי, wĕ-yiš-ma' qôlî) employs the same verbal root as verse 16, emphasizing the reciprocal relationship: the psalmist cries and God listens. This is covenant actuality.

Voice

The psalmist, describing his persistent, multi-temporal prayer and God's faithful response.

Significance

This assurance echoes Psalm 4:3 and other affirmations that God's ear remains open to the cry of the afflicted. In Christian theology, this becomes the basis of intercessory prayer itself—the confidence that God genuinely attends to human petition (Romans 8:26-27), with Christ himself as the archetypal voice crying out that reaches God's ear.

15Let death seize them by surprise; let them go down to Sheol alive, for evil is with them in their homes.

16But I call to God, and the LORD saves me.

17Morning, noon, and night, I cry out in distress, and He hears my voice.

18He redeems my soul in peace from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me.

19God will hear and humiliate them— the One enthroned for the ages— because they do not change and they have no fear of God.

Read all of Psalm 55 — If an enemy attacked, I could bear it. But it was you — my companion, my close friend. The deepest wounds come from the nearest people.