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, understanding for David. Hear, O God, my prayer, 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 hear me. I am grieved in my exercise; and am troubled,
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 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 thumps in agony! Terrified, I feel I'm about to die!
My heart is troubled within me: and the fear of death is fallen upon me.
5 I'm in a panic, trembling with fear; feelings of horror wash over me.
Fear and trembling are come upon me: and darkness hath covered 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 a dove, and I will fly and be at rest?
7 I would fly far away to escape, and stay in the wilderness. (Selah)
Lo, I have gone far off flying away; and I abode in the wilderness.
8 I would hurry to a place to hide, out of the wind, safe from the raging storm.
I waited for him that hath saved me from pusillanimity of spirit, and a storm.
9 Confuse them, Lord! Muddle what they're saying, for I see violence and conflict in the city.
Cast 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 shall iniquity surround it upon its walls: and in the midst thereof are labour,
11 The ones causing destruction are inside the city; frauds and cheats are always on the streets.
And injustice. And usury and deceit have not departed 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 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 No, it's you, a man just like me, my best friend who I know so well!
But thou a man of one mind, my guide, and my familiar,
14 Our friendship was so close. We used to have great talks together as we walked with everyone to the house of God.
Who didst take sweetmeats together with me: in the house of God we walked with consent.
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 go down alive into hell. For there is wickedness in their dwellings: in the midst of them. (Sheol h7585)
16 As for me, I cry out to God, and the Lord will save me.
But I have cried 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 at noon I will speak and declare: and he shall hear my voice.
18 He rescues me, keeping me safe and sound from my attackers, because there are so many against me.
He shall redeem my soul in peace from them that draw near to me: for among 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 shall hear, and the Eternal shall 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 hath stretched forth his hand to repay. They have defiled 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 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 Throw your burdens onto the Lord and he will take care of you. He will never allow those who live right to fall.
Cast thy care upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall not suffer the just to waver for ever.
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.
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.
