Psalms 55
1 For the end, amongst Hymns of instruction by David. Listen, O God, to my prayer; and disregard not my supplication.
Unto the end, in verses, understanding for David. Hear, O God, my prayer, and despise not my supplication:
2 Attend to me, and listen to me: I was grieved in my (meditation) and troubled;
Be attentive to me and hear me. I am grieved in my exercise; and am troubled,
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.
At the voice of the enemy, and at the tribulation of the sinner. For they have cast iniquities upon me: and in wrath they were troublesome to me.
4 My heart was troubled within me; and the fear of death fell upon me.
My heart is troubled within me: and the fear of death is fallen upon me.
5 Fear and trembling came upon me, and darkness covered me.
Fear and trembling are come upon me: and darkness hath covered me.
6 And I said, O that I had wings as [those] of a dove! then would I flee away, and be at rest.
And I said: Who will give me wings like a dove, and I will fly and be at rest?
7 Behold! I have fled afar off, and lodged in the wilderness. (Pause)
Lo, I have gone far off flying away; and I abode in the wilderness.
8 I waited for him that should deliver me from distress of spirit and tempest.
I waited for him that hath saved me from pusillanimity of spirit, and a storm.
9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen iniquity and gain saying in the city.
Cast down, O Lord, and divide their tongues; for I have seen iniquity and contradiction 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 shall iniquity surround it upon its walls: and in the midst thereof are labour,
11 and usury and craft have not failed from its streets.
And injustice. And usury and deceit have not departed from its streets.
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 if my enemy had reviled me, I would verily have borne with it. And if he that hated me had spoken great things against me, I would perhaps have hidden myself from him.
13 But you, O man like minded, my guide, and my acquaintance,
But thou a man of one mind, my guide, and my familiar,
14 who in companionship with me sweetened [our] food: we walked in the house of God in concord.
Who didst take sweetmeats together with me: in the house of God we walked with consent.
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)
Let death come upon them, and let them go down alive into hell. For there is wickedness in their dwellings: in the midst of them. (Sheol h7585)
16 I cried to God, and the Lord listened to me.
But I have cried to God: and the Lord will save me.
17 Evening, and morning, and at noon I will declare and make known [my wants]: and he shall hear my voice.
Evening and morning, and at noon I will speak and declare: and he shall hear my voice.
18 He shall deliver my soul in peace from them that draw near to me: for they were with me in many [cases].
He shall redeem my soul in peace from them that draw near to me: for among many they were 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 shall hear, and the Eternal shall humble them. For there is no change with them, and they have not feared God:
20 He has reached forth his hand for retribution; they have profaned his covenant.
He hath stretched forth his hand to repay. They have defiled his covenant,
21 They were scattered at the anger of his countenance, and his heart drew near them. His words were smoother than oil, yet are they darts.
They are divided by the wrath Of his countenance, and his heart hath drawn near. His words are smoother than oil, and the same are darts.
22 Cast your care upon the Lord, and he shall sustain you; he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Cast thy care upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall not suffer the just to waver for ever.
23 But you, O God, shall bring them down to the pit of destruction; bloody and crafty men shall not live out half their days; but I will hope in you, O Lord.
But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction. Bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee, O Lord.
