Psalms 55:15 (YLT)

Passage

Desolations <FI>are<Fi> upon them, They go down <FI>to<Fi> Sheol--alive, For wickedness <FI>is<Fi> in their dwelling, in their midst.

Nearby Context

Psalms 55:13 But thou, a man--as mine equal, My familiar friend, and mine acquaintance.

Psalms 55:14 When together we sweeten counsel, Into the house of God we walk in company.

Psalms 55:15 Desolations <FI>are<Fi> upon them, They go down <FI>to<Fi> Sheol--alive, For wickedness <FI>is<Fi> in their dwelling, in their midst.

Psalms 55:16 I--to God I call, and Jehovah saveth me.

Psalms 55:17 Evening, and morning, and noon, I meditate, and make a noise, and He heareth my voice,

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "desolations", "upon", "down", "sheol--alive", "wickedness", "dwelling", and "midst". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "desolations" and "upon", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 14's "When together we sweeten counsel Into the..." into verse 16's "I--to God I call and Jehovah saveth...", so "desolations" and "upon" 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 "desolations" and "upon" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.