Psalms 55
1 To the chief Musician. On stringed instruments: an instruction. Of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.
For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Maskil of David. Listen to my prayer, O God, and do not ignore my plea.
2 Attend unto me, and answer me: I wander about in my plaint, and I moan aloud,
Attend to me and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and distraught
3 Because of the voice of the enemy; because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in anger they persecute me.
at the voice of the enemy, at the pressure of the wicked. For they release disaster upon me and revile me in their anger.
4 My heart is writhing within me, and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
My heart murmurs within me, and the terrors of death assail me.
5 Fear and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
Fear and trembling grip me, and horror has overwhelmed me.
6 And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away, and be at rest;
I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest.
7 Behold, I would flee afar off, I would lodge in the wilderness; (Selah)
How far away I would flee! In the wilderness I would remain.
8 I would hasten my escape from the stormy wind, from the tempest.
I would hurry to my shelter, far from this raging tempest.”
9 Swallow [them] up, Lord; divide their tongue: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
O Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof; and iniquity and mischief are in the midst of it.
Day and night they encircle the walls, while malice and trouble lie within.
11 Perversities are in the midst thereof; and oppression and deceit depart not from its streets.
Destruction is within; oppression and deceit never leave the streets.
12 For it is not an enemy that hath reproached me — then could I have borne it; neither is it he that hateth me that hath magnified [himself] against me — then would I have hidden myself from him;
For it is not an enemy who insults me; that I could endure. It is not a foe who rises against me; from him I could hide.
13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, mine intimate, my familiar friend. ...
But it is you, a man like myself, my companion and close friend.
14 We who held sweet intercourse together. To the house of God we walked amid the throng.
We shared sweet fellowship together; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.
15 Let death seize upon them, let them go down alive into Sheol. For wickedness is in their dwellings, in their midst. (Sheol h7585)
Let death seize them by surprise; let them go down to Sheol alive, for evil is with them in their homes. (Sheol h7585)
16 As for me, unto God will I call; and Jehovah will save me.
But I call to God, and the LORD saves me.
17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray and moan aloud; and he will hear my voice.
Morning, noon, and night, I cry out in distress, and He hears my voice.
18 He hath redeemed my soul in peace from the battle against me: for there were many about me.
He redeems my soul in peace from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me.
19 God will hear, and afflict them: he that is seated of old, (Selah) ...because there is no change in them, and they fear not God.
God will hear and humiliate them— the One enthroned for the ages— (Selah) because they do not change and they have no fear of God.
20 He hath put forth his hands against such as are at peace with him; he hath profaned his covenant.
My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.
21 Smooth were the milky [words] of his mouth, but his heart was war; his words were softer than oil, yet are they drawn swords.
His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed.
22 Cast thy burden upon Jehovah, and he will sustain thee: he will never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.
23 And thou, O God, wilt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days. But as for me, I will confide in thee.
But You, O God, will bring them down to the Pit of destruction; men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You.
