< 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 stringed instruments. A maskil of David. Listen, God, to my prayer. Don’t hide yourself from my pleading.
2 Attend to me and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and distraught
Hear me, and answer; for bitter is my lament.
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.
I am wild with the noise of the foe, with the clamor of the ungodly; for they hurl disaster upon me, and attack me with fury.
4 My heart murmurs within me, and the terrors of death assail me.
My heart shudders within me, terrors of deaths press on me,
5 Fear and trembling grip me, and horror has overwhelmed me.
fear and trembling attack me, and horror wraps me round.
6 I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest.
O for the wings of a dove: I would fly away and rest.
7 How far away I would flee! In the wilderness I would remain.
I would wander far away, find refuge in the wilderness. (Selah)
8 I would hurry to my shelter, far from this raging tempest.”
I would find myself a shelter from raging wind and tempest.
9 O Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city.
Confuse them, Lord, upset their plans; for I see violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they encircle the walls, while malice and trouble lie within.
By day and by night they make their rounds on the city walls, while within is crime and trouble,
11 Destruction is within; oppression and deceit never leave the streets.
within is ruin. Her market-place is never free of deceit and tyranny.
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.
The taunts were not those of a foe that I could have borne; the disdain was not that of an enemy I could have shunned them:
13 But it is you, a man like myself, my companion and close friend.
but it was you, my equal, my dear and familiar friend.
14 We shared sweet fellowship together; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.
We used to be so close, together we walked in God’s house with the crowd.
15 Let death seize them by surprise; let them go down to Sheol alive, for evil is with them in their homes. (Sheol )
May death suddenly take them, may they go down to Sheol alive, for evil lives in their homes and their hearts. (Sheol )
16 But I call to God, and the LORD saves me.
But I will call on God, the Lord will save me.
17 Morning, noon, and night, I cry out in distress, and He hears my voice.
Evening and morning and noon I lament and moan. He will hear my voice;
18 He redeems my soul in peace from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me.
though I am attacked by many he will rescue me, unharmed from the war.
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, who sits on his ancient throne will hear and will humble them, for they never change, they never fear God. (Selah)
20 My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.
My friend turned against me, betrayed his word.
21 His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed.
His mouth was smoother than butter, but war filled his heart. His words were softer than oil, but sharper than swords.
22 Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.
Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you. He will never let the righteous be shaken.
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 you, God, will hurl them down to the deepest pit. Bloody and treacherous people will not live out half their days; but I will trust you.