Psalms 55

1 Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not thyself from my supplication.

For the end, amongst Hymns of instruction by David. Listen, O God, to my prayer; and disregard not my supplication.

2 Attend to me, and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and moan,

Attend to me, and listen to me: I was grieved in my (meditation) and troubled;

3 because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they cast iniquity upon me, and in anger they persecute me.

because of the voice of the enemy, and because of the oppression of the sinner: for they brought iniquity against me, and were wrathfully angry with me.

4 My heart is greatly pained within me, and the terrors of death have fallen upon me.

My heart was troubled within me; and the fear of death fell upon me.

5 Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, and horror has overwhelmed me.

Fear and trembling came upon me, and darkness covered me.

6 And I said, O that I had wings like a dove! Then I would fly away, and be at rest.

And I said, O that I had wings as [those] of a dove! then would I flee away, and be at rest.

7 Lo, then I would wander far off. I would lodge in the wilderness. (Selah)

Behold! I have fled afar off, and lodged in the wilderness. (Pause)

8 I would hasten myself to a shelter from the stormy wind and tempest.

I waited for him that should deliver me from distress of spirit and tempest.

9 Destroy, O Lord, divide their tongue, for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen iniquity and gain saying in the city.

10 Day and night they go about it, upon the walls of it. Iniquity and mischief also are in the midst of it.

Day and night he shall go round about it upon its walls: iniquity and sorrow and unrighteousness [are] in the midst of it;

11 Wickedness is in the midst of it. Oppression and deceit depart not from its streets.

and usury and craft have not failed from its streets.

12 For it was not an enemy who reproached me. Then I could have borne it. Neither was it he who hated me that magnified himself against me. Then I would have hid myself from him.

For if an enemy had reproached me, I would have endured it; and if one who hated [me] had spoken vauntingly against me, I would have hid myself from him.

13 But it was thou, a man my equal, my companion, and my familiar friend.

But you, O man like minded, my guide, and my acquaintance,

14 We took sweet counsel together. We walked in the house of God with the throng.

who in companionship with me sweetened [our] food: we walked in the house of God in concord.

15 Let death come suddenly upon them. Let them go down alive into Sheol. For wickedness is in their dwelling, in the midst of them. (Sheol h7585)

Let death come upon them, and let them go down alive into Hades, for iniquity is in their dwellings, in the midst of them. (Sheol h7585)

16 As for me, I will call upon God, and Jehovah will save me.

I cried to God, and the Lord listened to me.

17 Evening, and morning, and at noonday, I will complain and moan. And he will hear my voice.

Evening, and morning, and at noon I will declare and make known [my wants]: and he shall hear my voice.

18 He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, for there were many by me.

He shall deliver my soul in peace from them that draw near to me: for they were with me in many [cases].

19 God will hear, and respond to them, (even he who abides of old), (Selah) men who have no changes, and who fear not God.

God shall hear, and bring them low, [even] he that has existed from eternity. (Pause) For they suffer no reverse, and [therefore] they have not feared God.

20 He has put forth his hands against such as were at peace with him. He has profaned his covenant.

He has reached forth his hand for retribution; they have profaned his covenant.

21 His mouth was smooth as butter, but his heart was war. His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.

They were scattered at the anger of his countenance, and his heart drew near them. His words were smoother than oil, yet are they darts.

22 (Cast thy burden upon Jehovah, and he will sustain thee. He will never allow the righteous man to be moved.)

Cast your care upon the Lord, and he shall sustain you; he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

23 But thou, O God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction. Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days, but I will trust in thee.

But you, O God, shall bring them down to the pit of destruction; bloody and crafty men shall not live out half their days; but I will hope in you, O Lord.