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, understanding for David. Hear, O God, my prayer, 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 hear me. I am grieved in my exercise; and am troubled,
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 enemy, and at the tribulation of the sinner. For they have cast iniquities upon me: and in wrath they were troublesome to me.
4 My heart murmurs within me, and the terrors of death assail me.
My heart is troubled within me: and the fear of death is fallen upon me.
5 Fear and trembling grip me, and horror has overwhelmed me.
Fear and trembling are come upon me: and darkness hath covered 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 a dove, and I will fly and be at rest?
7 How far away I would flee! In the wilderness I would remain.
Lo, I have gone far off flying away; and I abode in the wilderness.
8 I would hurry to my shelter, far from this raging tempest.”
I waited for him that hath saved me from pusillanimity of spirit, and a storm.
9 O Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city.
Cast 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 shall iniquity surround it upon its walls: and in the midst thereof are labour,
11 Destruction is within; oppression and deceit never leave the streets.
And injustice. And usury and deceit have not departed 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 reviled me, I would verily have borne with it. And if he that hated me had spoken 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.
But thou a man of one mind, my guide, and my familiar,
14 We shared sweet fellowship together; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.
Who didst take sweetmeats together with me: in the house of God we walked with consent.
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 go down alive into hell. For there is wickedness in their dwellings: in the midst of them. (Sheol h7585)
16 But I call to God, and the LORD saves me.
But I have cried 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 at noon I will speak and declare: and he shall hear my voice.
18 He redeems my soul in peace from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me.
He shall redeem my soul in peace from them that draw near to me: for among 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 shall hear, and the Eternal shall 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 hath stretched forth his hand to repay. They have defiled 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 are divided by the wrath Of his countenance, and his heart hath drawn near. His words are smoother than oil, and the same are darts.
22 Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.
Cast thy care upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall not suffer the just to waver for ever.
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.
But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction. Bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee, O Lord.
