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 Neginoth, a Maskil 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
Listen unto me, and answer me: I mourn in my grief, and 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 wrong upon me, and in wrath they attack me.
4 My heart murmurs within me, and the terrors of death assail me.
My heart is sorely pained within me, and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
5 Fear and trembling grip me, and horror has overwhelmed me.
Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and shuddering hath covered me.
6 I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest.
And I said, Oh that some one would give me wings like a dove! I would fly away and dwell [quietly].
7 How far away I would flee! In the wilderness I would remain.
Lo, I would flee far away, I would spend my night in the wilderness. (Selah)
8 I would hurry to my shelter, far from this raging tempest.”
I would prepare hastily a refuge for me from the sweeping wind [and] from storm.
9 O Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city.
Destroy, O 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 do these encompass it upon her walls: and wrong and trouble are in her midst.
11 Destruction is within; oppression and deceit never leave the streets.
Mischief is in her midst: guile and deceit depart not from her 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 reproached me; then I could bear it: not he that hateth me hath magnified himself against me; then I would have hidden myself from him;
13 But it is you, a man like myself, my companion and close friend.
But it is thou, a man my equal, my guide, and my acquaintance;
14 We shared sweet fellowship together; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.
So that we took sweet secret counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in tumultuous company.
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 him dispense death over them; let them go down alive into the nether world; for evil is in their dwelling, in the midst of them. (Sheol h7585)
16 But I call to God, and the LORD saves me.
I, however, will call on God: and the Lord will save me.
17 Morning, noon, and night, I cry out in distress, and He hears my voice.
At evening and morning and noon will I make my complaint and moan: and he heareth my voice.—
18 He redeems my soul in peace from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me.
He delivereth my soul in peace from the battle against me; for in multitudes are they [contending] 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 humble them—yea, he that sitteth enthroned from the oldest time Selah—those who dread no changes, and fear not God.
20 My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.
He stretcheth out his hands against those at peace with him: he violateth 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.
The creamy words of his mouth are smooth, yet there is war [in] his heart; his words are 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 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, thou wilt bring them down into the pit of destruction: let not the men of blood and deceit live out half their days; but I will indeed trust in thee.
