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.
Unto the end, in verses, understanding for David. Hear, O God, my prayer, and despise not my supplication:
2 Attend unto me, and answer me: I wander about in my plaint, and I moan aloud,
Be attentive to me and hear me. I am grieved in my exercise; and am troubled,
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, and at the tribulation of the sinner. For they have cast iniquities upon me: and in wrath they were troublesome to me.
4 My heart is writhing within me, and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
My heart is troubled within me: and the fear of death is fallen upon me.
5 Fear and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
Fear and trembling are come upon me: and darkness hath covered me.
6 And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away, and be at rest;
And I said: Who will give me wings like a dove, and I will fly and be at rest?
7 Behold, I would flee afar off, I would lodge in the wilderness; (Selah)
Lo, I have gone far off flying away; and I abode in the wilderness.
8 I would hasten my escape from the stormy wind, from the tempest.
I waited for him that hath saved me from pusillanimity of spirit, and a storm.
9 Swallow [them] up, Lord; divide their tongue: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
Cast down, O Lord, and divide their tongues; for I have seen iniquity and contradiction 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 shall iniquity surround it upon its walls: and in the midst thereof are labour,
11 Perversities are in the midst thereof; and oppression and deceit depart not from its streets.
And injustice. And usury and deceit have not departed from its 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 if my enemy had reviled me, I would verily have borne with it. And if he that hated me had spoken great things against me, I would perhaps have hidden myself from him.
13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, mine intimate, my familiar friend. ...
But thou a man of one mind, my guide, and my familiar,
14 We who held sweet intercourse together. To the house of God we walked amid the throng.
Who didst take sweetmeats together with me: in the house of God we walked with consent.
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 come upon them, and let them go down alive into hell. For there is wickedness in their dwellings: in the midst of them. (Sheol h7585)
16 As for me, unto God will I call; and Jehovah will save me.
But I have cried to God: and the Lord will save me.
17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray and moan aloud; and he will hear my voice.
Evening and morning, and at noon I will speak and declare: and he shall hear my voice.
18 He hath redeemed my soul in peace from the battle against me: for there were many about me.
He shall redeem my soul in peace from them that draw near to me: for among many they were with 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 shall hear, and the Eternal shall humble them. For there is no change with them, and they have not feared God:
20 He hath put forth his hands against such as are at peace with him; he hath profaned his covenant.
He hath stretched forth his hand to repay. They have defiled 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.
They are divided by the wrath Of his countenance, and his heart hath drawn near. His words are smoother than oil, and the same are darts.
22 Cast thy burden upon Jehovah, and he will sustain thee: he will never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Cast thy care upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall not suffer the just to waver for ever.
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 thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction. Bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee, O Lord.
