Psalms 55:11 (GNV)

Passage

Wickednes is in the middes thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streetes.

Nearby Context

Psalms 55:9 Destroy, O Lord, and deuide their tongues: for I haue seene crueltie and strife in the citie.

Psalms 55:10 Day and night they goe about it vpon the walles thereof: both iniquitie and mischiefe are in the middes of it.

Psalms 55:11 Wickednes is in the middes thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streetes.

Psalms 55:12 Surely mine enemie did not defame mee: for I could haue borne it: neither did mine aduersarie exalt himselfe against mee: for I would haue hid me from him.

Psalms 55:13 But it was thou, O man, euen my companion, my guide and my familiar:

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "wickednes", "middes", "thereof", "deceit", "guile", "depart", and "streetes". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "wickednes" and "middes", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 10's "Day and night they goe about it..." into verse 12's "Surely mine enemie did not defame mee...", so "wickednes" and "middes" belong inside that flow. In Psalms context, the local focus is worship, trust, the LORD's kingship, and covenant mercy.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "wickednes" and "middes" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.