Psalms 55:17
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
American King James Version (AKJV)
Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
American Standard Version (ASV)
Evening, and morning, and at noonday, will I complain, and moan; And he will hear my voice.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
In the evening and in the morning and in the middle of the day I will make my prayer with sounds of grief; and my voice will come to his ears.
Webster's Revision
Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he will hear my voice.
World English Bible
Evening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress. He will hear my voice.
English Revised Version (ERV)
Evening, and morning, and at noonday, will I complain, and moan: and he shall hear my voice.
Clarke's Psalms 55:17 Bible Commentary
Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray - This was the custom of the pious Hebrews. See Daniel 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."
Barnes's Psalms 55:17 Bible Commentary
Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray - In another place Psalm 119:164 the psalmist says that he engaged in acts of devotion seven times in a day. Daniel prayed three times a day, Daniel 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 2 Corinthians 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
(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 Psalm 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 Psalm 55:16.
Wesley's Psalms 55:17 Bible Commentary
55:17 Evening, &c. - The three stated times of prayer among the Jews.