Psalms 55

1 For the end, amongst Hymns of instruction by David. Listen, O God, to my prayer; and disregard not my supplication.

TO THE OVERSEER. WITH STRINGED INSTRUMENTS. AN INSTRUCTION OF DAVID. Give ear, O God, [to] my prayer, And do not hide from my supplication.

2 Attend to me, and listen to me: I was grieved in my (meditation) and troubled;

Attend to me, and answer me, I mourn in my (meditation) and make a noise,

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 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 was troubled within me; and the fear of death fell upon me.

My heart is pained within me, And terrors of death have fallen on me.

5 Fear and trembling came upon me, and darkness covered me.

Fear and trembling come to me, And horror covers 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 say, “Who gives to me a pinion as a dove?” I fly away and rest,

7 Behold! I have fled afar off, and lodged in the wilderness. (Pause)

Behold, I move far off, I lodge in a wilderness. (Selah)

8 I waited for him that should deliver me from distress of spirit and tempest.

I hurry escape for myself, From a rushing wind, from a whirlwind.

9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen iniquity and gain saying in the city.

Swallow up, O Lord, divide their tongue, For I saw violence and strife in a 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;

By day and by night they go around it, on its walls. Both iniquity and perverseness [are] in its midst,

11 and usury and craft have not failed from its streets.

Mischiefs [are] in its midst. Fraud and deceit do not depart from its street.

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 an enemy does not reproach me, or I bear [it], He who is hating me Has not magnified himself against me, Or I hide from him.

13 But you, O man like minded, my guide, and my acquaintance,

But you, a man—as my equal, My familiar friend, and my acquaintance.

14 who in companionship with me sweetened [our] food: we walked in the house of God in concord.

When together we sweeten counsel, We walk into the house of God in company.

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 [are] on them, They go down [to] Sheol—alive, For wickedness [is] in their dwelling, in their midst. (Sheol h7585)

16 I cried to God, and the Lord listened to me.

I call to God, and YHWH saves 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 noon, I meditate, and make a noise, and He hears 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 has ransomed my soul in peace From him who is near to me, For with the multitude 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 hears and afflicts them, And He sits of old. (Selah) Because they have no changes, and do not fear God,

20 He has reached forth his hand for retribution; they have profaned his covenant.

He has sent forth his hands against his well-wishers, He has 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.

His mouth has been sweeter than honey, And his heart [is] war! His words have been softer than oil, And they [are] drawn [swords].

22 Cast your care upon the Lord, and he shall sustain you; he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Cast on YHWH that which He has given you, And He sustains you, He does not permit the moving of the righteous forever.

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.

And You, O God, bring them down To a pit of destruction, Men of blood and deceit do not reach to half their days, And I trust in You!