Psalms 55
1 Unto the end. In verses, the understanding of David. Listen to my prayer, O God, and despise 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 Be attentive to me, and heed me. I have been grieved in my training, and I have been disturbed
Attend to me, and answer me, I mourn in my (meditation) and make a noise,
3 at the voice of the adversary and at the tribulation of the sinner. For they have diverted iniquities toward me, and they have been harassing me with rage.
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 has become disturbed within me, and the dread of death has fallen over me.
My heart is pained within me, And terrors of death have fallen on me.
5 Fear and trembling have overwhelmed me, and darkness has buried me.
Fear and trembling come to me, And horror covers me.
6 And I said, “Who will give me wings like the dove, so that I may fly away and take rest?”
And I say, “Who gives to me a pinion as a dove?” I fly away and rest,
7 Behold, I have fled far away, and I linger in solitude.
Behold, I move far off, I lodge in a wilderness. (Selah)
8 I waited for him who saved me from a weak-minded spirit and from a tempest.
I hurry escape for myself, From a rushing wind, from a whirlwind.
9 Cast them down, O Lord, and divide their tongues. For I have seen iniquity and contradiction in the city.
Swallow up, O Lord, divide their tongue, For I saw violence and strife in a city.
10 Day and night, iniquity will surround it upon its walls, and hardship is in its midst,
By day and by night they go around it, on its walls. Both iniquity and perverseness [are] in its midst,
11 with injustice. And usury and deceit have not fallen away from its streets.
Mischiefs [are] in its midst. Fraud and deceit do not depart from its street.
12 For if my enemy had spoken evil about me, certainly, I would have sustained it. And if he who hated me had been speaking great things against me, I would perhaps have hidden 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 Truly, you are a man of one mind: my leader and my acquaintance,
But you, a man—as my equal, My familiar friend, and my acquaintance.
14 who took sweet food together with me. In the house of God, we walked side-by-side.
When together we sweeten counsel, We walk into the house of God in company.
15 Let death come upon them, and let them descend alive into Hellfire. For there is wickedness in their dwellings, in their midst. (Sheol h7585)
Desolations [are] on them, They go down [to] Sheol—alive, For wickedness [is] in their dwelling, in their midst. (Sheol h7585)
16 But I have cried out to God, and the Lord will save me.
I call to God, and YHWH saves me.
17 Evening and morning and midday, I will discourse and announce, and he will heed my voice.
Evening, and morning, and noon, I meditate, and make a noise, and He hears my voice,
18 He will redeem my soul in peace from those who draw near to me. For, among the many, they were with me.
He has ransomed my soul in peace From him who is near to me, For with the multitude they were with me.
19 God will hear, and He who is before time will humble them. For there is no change with them, and 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 stretched forth his hand in retribution. They have contaminated his covenant.
He has sent forth his hands against his well-wishers, He has defiled his covenant.
21 They were divided by the wrath of his countenance, and his heart has drawn near. His words are smoother than oil, and they are arrows.
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 cares upon the Lord, and he will nurture you. He will not allow the just to be tossed about forever.
Cast on YHWH that which He has given you, And He sustains you, He does not permit the moving of the righteous forever.
23 Truly, O God, you will lead them away into the well of death. Bloody and deceitful men will not divide their days in half. 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!
