Psalms 55
1 To the chief music-maker, on Neginoth. Maschil. Of David. Give hearing to my prayer, O God; and let not your ear be shut against my request.
[For the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A contemplation by David.] Listen to my prayer, God. Do not hide yourself from my petition.
2 Give thought to me, and let my prayer be answered: I have been made low in sorrow;
Attend to me, and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and moan,
3 I am troubled because of the voice of the cruel ones, because of the loud cry of the evil-doers; for they put a weight of evil on me, and they are cruel in their hate for me.
Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked. For they bring suffering on me. In anger they hold a grudge against me.
4 My heart is deeply wounded, and the fear of death has come on me.
My heart is severely pained within me. The terrors of death have fallen on me.
5 Fear and shaking have come over me, with deep fear I am covered.
Fearfulness and trembling have come on me. Horror has overwhelmed me.
6 And I said, If only I had wings like a dove! for then I would go in flight from here and be at rest.
I said, "Oh that I had wings like a dove. Then I would fly away, and be at rest.
7 I would go wandering far away, living in the waste land. (Selah)
Look, then I would wander far off. I would lodge in the wilderness." (Selah)
8 I would quickly take cover from the driving storm and from the violent wind.
"I would hurry to a shelter from the stormy wind and storm."
9 Send destruction on them, O Lord, make a division of tongues among them: for I have seen fighting and violent acts in the town.
Confuse them, LORD, and confound their language, for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
10 By day and night they go round the town, on the walls; trouble and sorrow are in the heart of it.
Day and night they prowl around on its walls. Malice and abuse are also within her.
11 Evil is there; cruel rule and deceit are ever in the streets.
Destructive forces are within her. Threats and lies do not depart from her streets.
12 For it was not my hater who said evil of me; that would have been no grief to me; it was not one outside the number of my friends who made himself strong against me, or I would have kept myself from him in a secret place;
For it was not an enemy who insulted me, then I could have endured it. Neither was it he who hated me who raised himself up against me, then I would have hid myself from him.
13 But it was you, my equal, my guide, my well-loved friend.
But it was you, a man like me, my companion, and my familiar friend.
14 We had loving talk together, and went to the house of God in company.
We took sweet fellowship together. We walked in God's house with company.
15 Let the hand of death come on them suddenly, and let them go down living into the underworld; because evil is in their houses and in their hearts. (Sheol h7585)
Let death come suddenly on them. Let them go down alive into Sheol. For wickedness is in their dwelling, in the midst of them. (Sheol h7585)
16 As for me, I will make my prayer to God, and he will be my saviour.
As for me, I will call on God. The LORD will save me.
17 In the evening and in the morning and in the middle of the day I will make my prayer with sounds of grief; and my voice will come to his ears.
Evening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress. He will hear my voice.
18 He has taken my soul away from the attack which was made against me, and given it peace; for great numbers were against me.
He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, although there are many who oppose me.
19 God will give thought to me; he who from early times is strong will send pain and trouble on them. (Selah) Because they are unchanged, they have no fear of God.
God, who is enthroned forever, will hear, and humble them. (Selah) They never change, who do not fear God.
20 He has put out his hand against those who were at peace with him; he has not kept his agreement.
He has stretched out his hand against those who were at peace with him. He has violated his covenant.
21 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, but they were sharp swords.
His mouth was smooth as butter, but his heart was war. His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.
22 Put your cares on the Lord, and he will be your support; he will not let the upright man be moved.
Throw your burden upon the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will never allow the righteous to be upended.
23 But you, O God, will send them down into the underworld; the cruel and the false will be cut off before half their days are ended; but I will have faith in you.
But you, God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction. Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days, but I will trust in you.
