Psalms 55
1 For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Maskil of David. Listen to my prayer, O God, and do not ignore my plea.
Unto the end. In verses, the understanding of David. Listen to my prayer, O God, and despise not my supplication.
2 Attend to me and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and distraught
Be attentive to me, and heed me. I have been grieved in my training, and I have been disturbed
3 at the voice of the enemy, at the pressure of the wicked. For they release disaster upon me and revile me in their anger.
at the voice of the adversary and at the tribulation of the sinner. For they have diverted iniquities toward me, and they have been harassing me with rage.
4 My heart murmurs within me, and the terrors of death assail me.
My heart has become disturbed within me, and the dread of death has fallen over me.
5 Fear and trembling grip me, and horror has overwhelmed me.
Fear and trembling have overwhelmed me, and darkness has buried me.
6 I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest.
And I said, “Who will give me wings like the dove, so that I may fly away and take rest?”
7 How far away I would flee! In the wilderness I would remain.
Behold, I have fled far away, and I linger in solitude.
8 I would hurry to my shelter, far from this raging tempest.”
I waited for him who saved me from a weak-minded spirit and from a tempest.
9 O Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city.
Cast them down, O Lord, and divide their tongues. For I have seen iniquity and contradiction in the city.
10 Day and night they encircle the walls, while malice and trouble lie within.
Day and night, iniquity will surround it upon its walls, and hardship is in its midst,
11 Destruction is within; oppression and deceit never leave the streets.
with injustice. And usury and deceit have not fallen away from its streets.
12 For it is not an enemy who insults me; that I could endure. It is not a foe who rises against me; from him I could hide.
For if my enemy had spoken evil about me, certainly, I would have sustained it. And if he who hated me had been speaking great things against me, I would perhaps have hidden myself from him.
13 But it is you, a man like myself, my companion and close friend.
Truly, you are a man of one mind: my leader and my acquaintance,
14 We shared sweet fellowship together; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.
who took sweet food together with me. In the house of God, we walked side-by-side.
15 Let death seize them by surprise; let them go down to Sheol alive, for evil is with them in their homes. (Sheol h7585)
Let death come upon them, and let them descend alive into Hellfire. For there is wickedness in their dwellings, in their midst. (Sheol h7585)
16 But I call to God, and the LORD saves me.
But I have cried out to God, and the Lord will save me.
17 Morning, noon, and night, I cry out in distress, and He hears my voice.
Evening and morning and midday, I will discourse and announce, and he will heed my voice.
18 He redeems my soul in peace from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me.
He will redeem my soul in peace from those who draw near to me. For, among the many, they were with me.
19 God will hear and humiliate them— the One enthroned for the ages— (Selah) because they do not change and they have no fear of God.
God will hear, and He who is before time will humble them. For there is no change with them, and they have not feared God.
20 My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.
He has stretched forth his hand in retribution. They have contaminated his covenant.
21 His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed.
They were divided by the wrath of his countenance, and his heart has drawn near. His words are smoother than oil, and they are arrows.
22 Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.
Cast your cares upon the Lord, and he will nurture you. He will not allow the just to be tossed about forever.
23 But You, O God, will bring them down to the Pit of destruction; men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You.
Truly, O God, you will lead them away into the well of death. Bloody and deceitful men will not divide their days in half. But I will hope in you, O Lord.
