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 chief musician; on stringed instruments. A maschil of David. Give ear to my prayer, God; and do not hide yourself from my plea.
2 Attend unto me, and answer me: I wander about in my plaint, and I moan aloud,
Pay attention to me and answer me; I have no rest in my troubles
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.
because of the voice of my enemies, because of the oppression of the wicked; for they bring trouble on me and persecute me in anger.
4 My heart is writhing within me, and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
My heart trembles within me, and the terrors of death have fallen on me.
5 Fear and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
Fearfulness and trembling have come on 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, if only I had wings like a dove! Then would I fly away and be at rest.
7 Behold, I would flee afar off, I would lodge in the wilderness; (Selah)
See, then I would wander far away; I would stay in the wilderness. (Selah)
8 I would hasten my escape from the stormy wind, from the tempest.
I would hurry to a shelter from the stormy wind and tempest.”
9 Swallow [them] up, Lord; divide their tongue: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
Devour them, Lord, confuse their language! For I have seen 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 go about on its walls; iniquity and mischief are in the middle of it.
11 Perversities are in the midst thereof; and oppression and deceit depart not from its streets.
Wickedness is in the middle of it; oppression and deceit do not leave 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 it was not an enemy who rebuked me, then I could have borne it; neither was it he who hated me who raised himself up against me, then I would have hidden myself from him.
13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, mine intimate, my familiar friend. ...
But it was you, a man equal to myself, my companion and my close friend.
14 We who held sweet intercourse together. To the house of God we walked amid the throng.
We had sweet fellowship together; we walked in the house of God with the throng.
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 suddenly on them; let them go down alive to Sheol, for wickedness is where they live, right among them. (Sheol h7585)
16 As for me, unto God will I call; and Jehovah will save me.
As for me, I will call on God, and Yahweh will save me.
17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray and moan aloud; and he will hear my voice.
In the evening, morning and at noonday I complain and moan; he will hear my voice.
18 He hath redeemed my soul in peace from the battle against me: for there were many about me.
He will safely rescue my life from the battle that was against me, for those who fought against me were many.
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, the one who rules from eternity, will hear them and humiliate them. (Selah) They never change, and they do not fear God.
20 He hath put forth his hands against such as are at peace with him; he hath profaned his covenant.
My friend has raised his hands against those who were at peace with him; he has not respected the covenant that he had.
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 mouth was smooth as butter, but his heart was hostile; his words were softer than oil, yet they were actually drawn swords.
22 Cast thy burden upon Jehovah, and he will sustain thee: he will never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Place your burdens on Yahweh, and he will sustain you; he will never allow a righteous person to totter.
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 the wicked down into the pit of destruction; bloodthirsty and deceitful men will not live even half as long as others, but I will trust in you.
