Psalms 55
1 For the end, amongst Hymns of instruction by David. Listen, O God, to my prayer; and disregard not my supplication.
For the chief musician; on stringed instruments. A maschil of David. Give ear to my prayer, God; and do not hide yourself from my plea.
2 Attend to me, and listen to me: I was grieved in my (meditation) and troubled;
Pay attention to me and answer me; I have no rest in my troubles
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 my enemies, because of the oppression of the wicked; for they bring trouble on me and persecute me in anger.
4 My heart was troubled within me; and the fear of death fell upon me.
My heart trembles within me, and the terrors of death have fallen on me.
5 Fear and trembling came upon me, and darkness covered me.
Fearfulness and trembling have come on me, and horror has overwhelmed me.
6 And I said, O that I had wings as [those] of a dove! then would I flee away, and be at rest.
I said, “Oh, if only I had wings like a dove! Then would I fly away and be at rest.
7 Behold! I have fled afar off, and lodged in the wilderness. (Pause)
See, then I would wander far away; I would stay in the wilderness. (Selah)
8 I waited for him that should deliver me from distress of spirit and tempest.
I would hurry to a shelter from the stormy wind and tempest.”
9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen iniquity and gain saying in the city.
Devour them, Lord, confuse their language! For I have seen violence and strife 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 about on its walls; iniquity and mischief are in the middle of it.
11 and usury and craft have not failed from its streets.
Wickedness is in the middle of it; oppression and deceit do not leave 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 it was not an enemy who rebuked me, then I could have borne it; neither was it he who hated me who raised himself up against me, then I would have hidden myself from him.
13 But you, O man like minded, my guide, and my acquaintance,
But it was you, a man equal to myself, my companion and my close friend.
14 who in companionship with me sweetened [our] food: we walked in the house of God in concord.
We had sweet fellowship together; we walked in the house of God with 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)
Let death come suddenly on them; let them go down alive to Sheol, for wickedness is where they live, right among them. (Sheol h7585)
16 I cried to God, and the Lord listened to me.
As for me, I will call on God, 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.
In the evening, morning and at noonday I complain and moan; he will 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 will safely rescue my life from the battle that was against me, for those who fought against me were many.
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, the one who rules from eternity, will hear them and humiliate them. (Selah) They never change, and they do not fear God.
20 He has reached forth his hand for retribution; they have profaned his covenant.
My friend has raised his hands against those who were at peace with him; he has not respected the covenant that he had.
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 was smooth as butter, but his heart was hostile; his words were softer than oil, yet they were actually drawn swords.
22 Cast your care upon the Lord, and he shall sustain you; he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Place your burdens on Yahweh, and he will sustain you; he will never allow a righteous person to totter.
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 you, God, will bring the wicked down into the pit of destruction; bloodthirsty and deceitful men will not live even half as long as others, but I will trust in you.
