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: with stringed Instruments. A Psalm of Instruction, of David. Give ear, O God, to my prayer, And do not hide 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 may ramble in my complaining, And be driven to and fro—
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 noise of the enemy, By reason of the oppression of the lawless one, For they would let trouble drop upon me, And, in anger, would they entrap me.
4 My heart murmurs within me, and the terrors of death assail me.
My heart, would writhe within me, And, the terrors of Death, have fallen upon me:
5 Fear and trembling grip me, and horror has overwhelmed me.
Fear and trembling, would enter me, And there would have overwhelmed me—a horror!
6 I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest.
Then I said—Oh that there were given me a pinion, like a dove, I would fly away and be at rest:
7 How far away I would flee! In the wilderness I would remain.
Lo! I would take a distant flight, I would tarry in the wilderness. (Selah)
8 I would hurry to my shelter, far from this raging tempest.”
I would hasten mine escape, From rushing wind, from storm.
9 O Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city.
Confuse, O My Lord, divide their speech, For I have seen violence and contention in the city;
10 Day and night they encircle the walls, while malice and trouble lie within.
Day and night, they go round her, upon her walls, And, trouble and misery, are in her midst;
11 Destruction is within; oppression and deceit never leave the streets.
Engulfing ruin, is in her midst, And there depart not from her broadway, oppression and deceit.
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 reproacheth me, Or I could bear it, —Not one that hath hated me, who, against me, hath magnified himself, Or I might hide myself from him;
13 But it is you, a man like myself, my companion and close friend.
But it is, thou, a man esteemed as mine equal, mine associate, and mine acquaintance;
14 We shared sweet fellowship together; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.
So that together have we been wont to find sweetness in counsel, In the house of God, used we to walk in 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)
Desolations on them! Let them go down into hades alive, For, wicked doings, are at home within them. (Sheol h7585)
16 But I call to God, and the LORD saves me.
I, unto God, will cry, —And, Yahweh, will save me.
17 Morning, noon, and night, I cry out in distress, and He hears my voice.
At evening and morning and high noon, have I been wont to lament and complain, 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 completely redeemed my soul, out of the attack upon me, For, in multitudes, were they [in conflict] 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, Yea He will humble them who aforetime sat [enthroned]. (Selah) With whom are no changings, Neither have they revered God.
20 My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.
He hath thrust forth his hands, against them he was wont to salute, he hath violated 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 curds, were [the words of] his mouth, But, war, was [in] his heart, —Softer his words than oil, Yet, they, were drawn swords!
22 Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.
Cast upon Yahweh thy lot, and, he, will sustain thee: He will not suffer, to times age-abiding, the righteous one to 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, thou, O God, wilt bring them down to the pit of destruction, Men of bloodshed and deceit, shall not live out half their days; But, I, will trust in thee.
