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 music director. With stringed instruments. A psalm (maskil) of David. God, please hear my prayer; don't ignore my cry for help!
2 Attend unto me, and answer me: I wander about in my plaint, and I moan aloud,
Please listen, and give me an answer. I'm terribly troubled by my problems! I'm frantic!
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.
For my enemies are screaming at me; the wicked are intimidating me. They rain down suffering on me, angrily assaulting me in their hatred.
4 My heart is writhing within me, and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
My heart thumps in agony! Terrified, I feel I'm about to die!
5 Fear and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
I'm in a panic, trembling with fear; feelings of horror wash over me.
6 And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away, and be at rest;
I tell myself, If only God would give me wings like a dove so I could fly away and be at peace!
7 Behold, I would flee afar off, I would lodge in the wilderness; (Selah)
I would fly far away to escape, and stay in the wilderness. (Selah)
8 I would hasten my escape from the stormy wind, from the tempest.
I would hurry to a place to hide, out of the wind, safe from the raging storm.
9 Swallow [them] up, Lord; divide their tongue: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
Confuse them, Lord! Muddle what they're saying, for I see violence and conflict 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.
They patrol the city walls day and night, and wickedness and trouble are within the city.
11 Perversities are in the midst thereof; and oppression and deceit depart not from its streets.
The ones causing destruction are inside the city; frauds and cheats are always on 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;
The problem is that it's not an enemy who mocks me—I could stand that. It's not someone who hates me who insults me—I could avoid them.
13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, mine intimate, my familiar friend. ...
No, it's you, a man just like me, my best friend who I know so well!
14 We who held sweet intercourse together. To the house of God we walked amid the throng.
Our friendship was so close. We used to have great talks together as we walked with everyone to 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)
May death come quickly to them; may they go down into the grave alive, because evil finds its home in them. (Sheol h7585)
16 As for me, unto God will I call; and Jehovah will save me.
As for me, I cry out 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.
I weep and groan morning, noon, and night, and he listens to me.
18 He hath redeemed my soul in peace from the battle against me: for there were many about me.
He rescues me, keeping me safe and sound from my attackers, because there are so many against 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 who has ruled from the beginning will hear me and answer them. (Selah) For they refuse to change and don't respect God.
20 He hath put forth his hands against such as are at peace with him; he hath profaned his covenant.
As for my best friend, he attacked his friends who had no quarrel with him; he broke the promises he had made to them.
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.
What he says is as smooth as butter, but inside he plans war; his words are as soothing as oil, but they cut like sharp swords.
22 Cast thy burden upon Jehovah, and he will sustain thee: he will never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Throw your burdens onto the Lord and he will take care of you. He will never allow those who live right to fall.
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, God, will bring down murderers and liars, throwing them into the pit of destruction before they have even lived half their lives. As for me, I will trust in you.
