Psalms 55

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

For the Leader; with string-music. Maschil of David. Give ear, O God, to my prayer; and hide not Thyself from my supplication.

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

Attend unto me, and hear me; I am distraught in my complaint, and will moan;

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, because of the oppression of the wicked; for they cast mischief upon me, and in anger they persecute me.

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

My heart doth writhe within me; and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.

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

Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed 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: 'Oh that I had wings like a dove! then would I fly away, and be at rest.

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

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

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

I would haste me to a shelter from the stormy wind 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 tongue; for I have seen violence and strife 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 they go about it upon the walls thereof; iniquity also and mischief are in the midst of it.

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

Wickedness is in the midst thereof; oppression and guile depart not from her broad place.

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 it was not an enemy that taunted me, then I could have borne it; neither was it mine adversary that did magnify himself against me, then I would have hid myself from him.

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

But it was thou, a man mine equal, my companion, and my familiar friend;

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

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

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)

May He incite death against them, let them go down alive into the nether-world; for evil is in their dwelling, and within them. (Sheol h7585)

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

As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save 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, will I complain, and moan; and He hath heard my voice.

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

He hath redeemed my soul in peace so that none came nigh me; for they were many that strove with me.

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 humble them, even He that is enthroned of old, (Selah) such as have no changes, and fear not God.

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

He hath put forth his hands against them that were at peace with him; he hath 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.

Smoother than cream were the speeches of his mouth, but his heart was war; his words were softer than oil, yet were they keen-edged swords.

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

Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He will sustain thee; He will 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 Thou, O God, wilt bring them down into the nethermost pit; men of blood and deceit shall not live out half their days; but as for me, I will trust in Thee.