Psalms 55
1 For the music director. With stringed instruments. A psalm (maskil) of David. God, please hear my prayer; don't ignore my cry for help!
Unto the end. In verses, the understanding of David. Listen to my prayer, O God, and despise not my supplication.
2 Please listen, and give me an answer. I'm terribly troubled by my problems! I'm frantic!
Be attentive to me, and heed me. I have been grieved in my training, and I have been disturbed
3 For my enemies are screaming at me; the wicked are intimidating me. They rain down suffering on me, angrily assaulting me in their hatred.
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.
4 My heart thumps in agony! Terrified, I feel I'm about to die!
My heart has become disturbed within me, and the dread of death has fallen over me.
5 I'm in a panic, trembling with fear; feelings of horror wash over me.
Fear and trembling have overwhelmed me, and darkness has buried me.
6 I tell myself, If only God would give me wings like a dove so I could fly away and be at peace!
And I said, “Who will give me wings like the dove, so that I may fly away and take rest?”
7 I would fly far away to escape, and stay in the wilderness. (Selah)
Behold, I have fled far away, and I linger in solitude.
8 I would hurry to a place to hide, out of the wind, safe from the raging storm.
I waited for him who saved me from a weak-minded spirit and from a tempest.
9 Confuse them, Lord! Muddle what they're saying, for I see violence and conflict in the city.
Cast them down, O Lord, and divide their tongues. For I have seen iniquity and contradiction in the city.
10 They patrol the city walls day and night, and wickedness and trouble are within the city.
Day and night, iniquity will surround it upon its walls, and hardship is in its midst,
11 The ones causing destruction are inside the city; frauds and cheats are always on the streets.
with injustice. And usury and deceit have not fallen away from its streets.
12 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.
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.
13 No, it's you, a man just like me, my best friend who I know so well!
Truly, you are a man of one mind: my leader and my acquaintance,
14 Our friendship was so close. We used to have great talks together as we walked with everyone to the house of God.
who took sweet food together with me. In the house of God, we walked side-by-side.
15 May death come quickly to them; may they go down into the grave alive, because evil finds its home in them. (Sheol h7585)
Let death come upon them, and let them descend alive into Hellfire. For there is wickedness in their dwellings, in their midst. (Sheol h7585)
16 As for me, I cry out to God, and the Lord will save me.
But I have cried out to God, and the Lord will save me.
17 I weep and groan morning, noon, and night, and he listens to me.
Evening and morning and midday, I will discourse and announce, and he will heed my voice.
18 He rescues me, keeping me safe and sound from my attackers, because there are so many against me.
He will redeem my soul in peace from those who draw near to me. For, among the many, they were with me.
19 God who has ruled from the beginning will hear me and answer them. (Selah) For they refuse to change and don't respect God.
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.
20 As for my best friend, he attacked his friends who had no quarrel with him; he broke the promises he had made to them.
He has stretched forth his hand in retribution. They have contaminated his covenant.
21 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.
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.
22 Throw your burdens onto the Lord and he will take care of you. He will never allow those who live right to fall.
Cast your cares upon the Lord, and he will nurture you. He will not allow the just to be tossed about forever.
23 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.
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.
