Psalms 55
1 Unto the end. In verses, the understanding of David. Listen to my prayer, O God, and despise not my supplication.
For the leader. With stringed instruments. A maskil of David. Listen, God, to my prayer. Don’t hide yourself from my pleading.
2 Be attentive to me, and heed me. I have been grieved in my training, and I have been disturbed
Hear me, and answer; for bitter is my lament.
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.
I am wild with the noise of the foe, with the clamour of the ungodly; for they hurl disaster upon me, and attack me with fury.
4 My heart has become disturbed within me, and the dread of death has fallen over me.
My heart shudders within me, terrors of deaths press on me,
5 Fear and trembling have overwhelmed me, and darkness has buried me.
fear and trembling attack me, and horror wraps me round.
6 And I said, “Who will give me wings like the dove, so that I may fly away and take rest?”
O for the wings of a dove: I would fly away and rest.
7 Behold, I have fled far away, and I linger in solitude.
I would wander far away, find refuge in the wilderness. (Selah)
8 I waited for him who saved me from a weak-minded spirit and from a tempest.
I would find myself a shelter from raging wind and tempest.
9 Cast them down, O Lord, and divide their tongues. For I have seen iniquity and contradiction in the city.
Confuse them, Lord, upset their plans; for I see violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night, iniquity will surround it upon its walls, and hardship is in its midst,
By day and by night they make their rounds on the city walls, while within is crime and trouble,
11 with injustice. And usury and deceit have not fallen away from its streets.
within is ruin. Her market-place is never free of deceit and tyranny.
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.
The taunts were not those of a foe that I could have borne; the disdain was not that of an enemy I could have shunned them:
13 Truly, you are a man of one mind: my leader and my acquaintance,
but it was you, my equal, my dear and familiar friend.
14 who took sweet food together with me. In the house of God, we walked side-by-side.
We used to be so close, together we walked in God’s house with the crowd.
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)
May death suddenly take them, may they go down to Sheol alive, for evil lives in their homes and their hearts. (Sheol h7585)
16 But I have cried out to God, and the Lord will save me.
But I will call on God, the Lord will save me.
17 Evening and morning and midday, I will discourse and announce, and he will heed my voice.
Evening and morning and noon I lament and moan. He will hear 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.
though I am attacked by many he will rescue me, unharmed from the war.
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, who sits on his ancient throne will hear and will humble them, for they never change, they never fear God. (Selah)
20 He has stretched forth his hand in retribution. They have contaminated his covenant.
My friend turned against me, betrayed his word.
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 was smoother than butter, but war filled his heart. His words were softer than oil, but sharper than 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 your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you. He will never let the righteous be shaken.
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.
But you, God, will hurl them down to the deepest pit. Bloody and treacherous people will not live out half their days; but I will trust you.
