Psalms 55
1 Unto the end. In verses, the understanding of David. Listen to my prayer, O God, and despise not my supplication.
God, listen to my prayer, and do not turn away from me while I am pleading with you.
2 Be attentive to me, and heed me. I have been grieved in my training, and I have been disturbed
Listen to me, and answer me, because I am overwhelmed by [all] my troubles.
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.
My enemies cause me to be terrified; wicked people oppress me. They cause me to have great troubles; they are angry with me, and they hate me.
4 My heart has become disturbed within me, and the dread of death has fallen over me.
I am terrified, and I am very much afraid that I will die.
5 Fear and trembling have overwhelmed me, and darkness has buried me.
I am very fearful and I tremble/shake, and I am completely terrified.
6 And I said, “Who will give me wings like the dove, so that I may fly away and take rest?”
I said, “I wish that I had wings like a dove! If I had wings, I would fly away and find a place to rest.
7 Behold, I have fled far away, and I linger in solitude.
I would fly far away and live in the desert.
8 I waited for him who saved me from a weak-minded spirit and from a tempest.
I would quickly find a shelter from [my enemies] [who are like] [MET] a strong wind and rainstorm.”
9 Cast them down, O Lord, and divide their tongues. For I have seen iniquity and contradiction in the city.
Lord, confuse my enemies, and cause their plans to fail, because I see them acting violently and causing strife in the city [of Jerusalem].
10 Day and night, iniquity will surround it upon its walls, and hardship is in its midst,
During [each] day and night they march around on top of its walls, committing crimes and causing trouble.
11 with injustice. And usury and deceit have not fallen away from its streets.
They destroy [things] everywhere. They oppress and defraud [people] in the (marketplaces/public squares).
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.
If it were an enemy who was making fun of me, I could endure it. If it were someone who hates me, who despises me, I could hide from him.
13 Truly, you are a man of one mind: my leader and my acquaintance,
But it is someone who is just like me, my companion, someone who was my friend [who is doing this to me].
14 who took sweet food together with me. In the house of God, we walked side-by-side.
We previously had many good talks together; we walked around together in God’s temple.
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)
I desire/hope that my enemies will die suddenly; while they are still young, cause them to go down to the place where the dead people are. They they think evil things. (Sheol h7585)
16 But I have cried out to God, and the Lord will save me.
But I [will] ask Yahweh, [my] God, to help me, and he will save me.
17 Evening and morning and midday, I will discourse and announce, and he will heed my voice.
[Each] morning and [each] noontime and [each] evening I tell him what I am concerned about, and I moan, 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.
I have [very] many enemies, but he will rescue me and bring me back safely from the battles that I fight.
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 is the one who has ruled everything forever, and he will listen to me. He will cause my enemies to be [defeated and] disgraced, because they do not change their evil behavior and they do not revere God.
20 He has stretched forth his hand in retribution. They have contaminated his covenant.
My companion, [whom I mentioned previously], betrayed his friends and broke the agreement that he made with them.
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.
What he said was [easy to listen to, like] butter [is easy to swallow] [MET], but in his inner being he hated people; his words were [soothing] like [olive] oil, [but they hurt people like] sharp swords do [MET].
22 Cast your cares upon the Lord, and he will nurture you. He will not allow the just to be tossed about forever.
Put your troubles in Yahweh’s hands, and he will take care of you; he will never allow righteous [people] to experience disasters.
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.
God, you will cause murderers [MTY] and liars to die before they have lived half as long as they expect to live; but [as for me], I will trust in you.
