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.
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 distraught
Attend unto me, and hear me; I am distraught in my complaint, and will moan;
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 mischief upon me, and in anger they persecute me.
4 My heart murmurs within me, and the terrors of death assail me.
My heart doth writhe 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 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! then would I fly away, and be at rest.
7 How far away I would flee! In the wilderness I would remain.
Lo, then would I wander far off, I would lodge in the wilderness. (Selah)
8 I would hurry to my shelter, far from this raging tempest.”
I would haste me to a shelter from the stormy wind and tempest.'
9 O Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see 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 encircle the walls, while malice and trouble lie within.
Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof; iniquity also and mischief are in the midst of it.
11 Destruction is within; oppression and deceit never leave the streets.
Wickedness is in the midst thereof; oppression and guile depart not from her broad place.
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 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 is you, a man like myself, my companion and close friend.
But it was thou, a man mine equal, my companion, and my familiar friend;
14 We shared sweet fellowship together; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.
We took sweet counsel together, in the house of God we walked with 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)
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 But I call to God, and the LORD saves me.
As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall 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 complain, and moan; and He hath heard 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 so that none came nigh me; for they were many that strove 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 humble them, even He that is enthroned of old, (Selah) such as have no changes, and fear not God.
20 My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.
He hath put forth his hands against them that were 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.
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 your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.
Cast thy burden upon the LORD, 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.
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.
