Psalms 55:23

23. Thou… shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction This verse must be taken as a repetition of the sense and intention of Psalms 55:15, “pit of destruction,” here, being equal to sheol there. The Hebrew words admit it, and the unity of the psalm requires it. The verbs should be translated in both cases declaratively, not optatively, as in our English version in Psalms 55:15. “Pit,” here, has allusion to the snare pit in which animals were entrapped and taken. The destruction of a conspiracy would follow from any cause which broke their harmony of counsel or unity of action as surely as a beast is taken when fallen into a snare pit. This conspiracy was virtually destroyed when Ahithophel withdrew. See 2 Samuel 17:14. The word translated “shall bring them down,” denotes an set of violence, as in Psalms 56:7, (where see note,) and this accords with what follows of “bloody and deceitful men.” But in Psalms 59:11 (where see note) it stands directly opposed to the death penalty. It is always right, while we trust alone in God for vindication and defence, to pray that wicked men may be brought to justice, but never from a feeling of revenge. See more on imprecations in Psalms 109:0.