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 Overseer with stringed instruments. — An instruction, by David. Give ear, O God, [to] my prayer, And hide not from my supplication.
2 Attend to me and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and distraught
Attend to me, and answer me, I mourn in my (meditation) and make a noise,
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 an enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked, For they cause sorrow to move against me, And in anger they hate me.
4 My heart murmurs within me, and the terrors of death assail me.
My heart is pained within me, And terrors of death have fallen on me.
5 Fear and trembling grip me, and horror has overwhelmed me.
Fear and trembling come in to me, And horror doth cover me.
6 I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest.
And I say, 'Who doth give to me a pinion as a dove? I fly away and rest,
7 How far away I would flee! In the wilderness I would remain.
Lo, I move far off, I lodge in a wilderness. (Selah)
8 I would hurry to my shelter, far from this raging tempest.”
I hasten escape for myself, From a rushing wind, from a whirlwind.
9 O Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city.
Swallow up, O Lord, divide their tongue, For I saw violence and strife in a city.
10 Day and night they encircle the walls, while malice and trouble lie within.
By day and by night they go round it, on its walls. Both iniquity and perverseness [are] in its midst,
11 Destruction is within; oppression and deceit never leave the streets.
Mischiefs [are] in its midst. Fraud and deceit depart not from its street.
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 an enemy reproacheth me not, or I bear [it], He who is hating me Hath not magnified himself against me, Or I hide from him.
13 But it is you, a man like myself, my companion and close friend.
But thou, a man — as mine equal, My familiar friend, and mine acquaintance.
14 We shared sweet fellowship together; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.
When together we sweeten counsel, Into the house of God we walk in 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)
Desolations [are] upon them, They go down [to] Sheol — alive, For wickedness [is] in their dwelling, in their midst. (Sheol h7585)
16 But I call to God, and the LORD saves me.
I — to God I call, and Jehovah saveth me.
17 Morning, noon, and night, I cry out in distress, and He hears my voice.
Evening, and morning, and noon, I meditate, and make a noise, and He heareth my voice,
18 He redeems my soul in peace from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me.
He hath ransomed in peace my soul From him who is near to me, For with the multitude 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 doth hear and afflict them, And He sitteth of old. (Selah) Because they have no changes, and fear not God,
20 My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.
He hath sent forth his hands against his well-wishers, He hath polluted 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.
Sweeter than honey hath been his mouth, And his heart [is] war! Softer have been his words than oil, And they [are] drawn [swords].
22 Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.
Cast on Jehovah that which He hath given thee, And He doth sustain thee, He doth not suffer for ever the moving of the righteous.
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.
And Thou, O God, dost bring them down To a pit of destruction, Men of blood and deceit reach not to half their days, And I — I do trust in Thee!
