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.
To the chief Musician. On stringed instruments: an instruction. Of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.
2 Attend to me and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and distraught
Attend unto me, and answer me: I wander about in my plaint, and I moan aloud,
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.
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.
4 My heart murmurs within me, and the terrors of death assail me.
My heart is writhing within me, and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
5 Fear and trembling grip me, and horror has overwhelmed me.
Fear and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
6 I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest.
And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away, and be at rest;
7 How far away I would flee! In the wilderness I would remain.
Behold, I would flee afar off, I would lodge in the wilderness; (Selah)
8 I would hurry to my shelter, far from this raging tempest.”
I would hasten my escape from the stormy wind, from the tempest.
9 O Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city.
Swallow [them] up, Lord; divide their tongue: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they encircle the walls, while malice and trouble lie within.
Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof; and iniquity and mischief are in the midst of it.
11 Destruction is within; oppression and deceit never leave the streets.
Perversities are in the midst thereof; and oppression and deceit depart not 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 it is not an enemy that hath reproached me — then could I have borne it; neither is it he that hateth me that hath magnified [himself] against me — then would I have hidden myself from him;
13 But it is you, a man like myself, my companion and close friend.
But it was thou, a man mine equal, mine intimate, my familiar friend. ...
14 We shared sweet fellowship together; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.
We who held sweet intercourse together. To the house of God we walked amid the throng.
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 seize upon them, let them go down alive into Sheol. For wickedness is in their dwellings, in their midst. (Sheol h7585)
16 But I call to God, and the LORD saves me.
As for me, unto God will I call; and Jehovah will save me.
17 Morning, noon, and night, I cry out in distress, and He hears my voice.
Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray and moan aloud; and he will hear my voice.
18 He redeems my soul in peace from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me.
He hath redeemed my soul in peace from the battle against me: for there were many about 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 afflict them: he that is seated of old, (Selah) ...because there is no change in them, and they fear not God.
20 My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.
He hath put forth his hands against such as are at peace with him; he hath profaned 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.
Smooth were the milky [words] of his mouth, but his heart was war; his words were softer than oil, yet are they drawn swords.
22 Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.
Cast thy burden upon Jehovah, and he will sustain thee: he will never suffer the righteous to be moved.
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.
And thou, O God, wilt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days. But as for me, I will confide in thee.
