Psalms 55
1 For the end, among Hymns of instruction by David. Hearken, O God, to my prayer; and disregard not my supplication.
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 hearken to me: I was grieved in my (meditation) and troubled;
Attend unto me, and answer me, I may ramble in my complaining, And be driven to and fro—
3 because of the voice of the enemy, and because of the oppression of the sinner: for they brought iniquity against me, and were wrathfully angry with me.
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 was troubled within me; and the fear of death fell upon me.
My heart, would writhe within me, And, the terrors of Death, have fallen upon me:
5 Fear and trembling came upon me, and darkness covered me.
Fear and trembling, would enter me, And there would have overwhelmed me—a horror!
6 And I said, O that I had wings as [those] of a dove! then would I flee away, and be at rest.
Then I said—Oh that there were given me a pinion, like a dove, I would fly away and be at rest:
7 Lo! I have fled afar off, and lodged in the wilderness. (Pause)
Lo! I would take a distant flight, I would tarry in the wilderness. (Selah)
8 I waited for him that should deliver me from distress of spirit and tempest.
I would hasten mine escape, From rushing wind, from storm.
9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen iniquity and gain saying in the city.
Confuse, O My Lord, divide their speech, For I have seen violence and contention in the city;
10 Day and night he shall go round about it upon its walls: iniquity and sorrow and unrighteousness [are] in the midst of it;
Day and night, they go round her, upon her walls, And, trouble and misery, are in her midst;
11 and usury and craft have not failed from its streets.
Engulfing ruin, is in her midst, And there depart not from her broadway, oppression and deceit.
12 For if an enemy had reproached me, I would have endured it; and if one who hated [me] had spoken vauntingly against me, I would have hid myself from him.
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 thou, O man like minded, my guide, and my acquaintance,
But it is, thou, a man esteemed as mine equal, mine associate, and mine acquaintance;
14 who in companionship with me sweetened [our] food: we walked in the house of God in concord.
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 come upon them, and let them go down alive into Hades, for iniquity is in their dwellings, in the midst of them. (Sheol h7585)
Desolations on them! Let them go down into hades alive, For, wicked doings, are at home within them. (Sheol h7585)
16 I cried to God, and the Lord hearkened to me.
I, unto God, will cry, —And, Yahweh, will save me.
17 Evening, and morning, and at noon I will declare and make known [my wants]: and he shall hear 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 shall deliver my soul in peace from them that draw nigh to me: for they were with me in many [cases].
He hath completely redeemed my soul, out of the attack upon me, For, in multitudes, were they [in conflict] with me.
19 God shall hear, and bring them low, [even] he that has existed from eternity. (Pause) For they suffer no reverse, and [therefore] they have not feared 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 He has reached forth his hand for retribution; they have profaned his covenant.
He hath thrust forth his hands, against them he was wont to salute, he hath violated his covenant;
21 They were scattered at the anger of his countenance, and his heart drew nigh them. His words were smoother than oil, yet are they darts.
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 thy care upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee; he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
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 thou, O God, shalt bring them down to the pit of destruction; bloody and crafty men shall not live out half their days; but I will hope in thee, O Lord.
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.
