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!
To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, [A Psalm] of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.
2 Please listen, and give me an answer. I'm terribly troubled by my problems! I'm frantic!
Attend to me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;
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.
Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.
4 My heart thumps in agony! Terrified, I feel I'm about to die!
My heart is severely pained within me: and the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
5 I'm in a panic, trembling with fear; feelings of horror wash over me.
Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed 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, O that I had wings like a dove! [for then] I would fly away, and be at rest.
7 I would fly far away to escape, and stay in the wilderness. (Selah)
Lo, [then] I would wander far off, [and] remain in the wilderness. (Selah)
8 I would hurry to a place to hide, out of the wind, safe from the raging storm.
I would hasten my escape from the windy storm [and] tempest.
9 Confuse them, Lord! Muddle what they're saying, for I see violence and conflict in the city.
Destroy, O LORD, [and] divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
10 They patrol the city walls day and night, and wickedness and trouble are within the city.
Day and night they go about it upon its walls: mischief also and sorrow [are] in the midst of it.
11 The ones causing destruction are inside the city; frauds and cheats are always on the streets.
Wickedness [is] in the midst of it: deceit and guile depart not from her 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 [it was] not an enemy [that] reproached me; then I could have borne [it]: neither [was it] he that hated me [that] magnified [himself] against me; then I would have hid myself from him:
13 No, it's you, a man just like me, my best friend who I know so well!
But [it was] thou, a man my equal, my guide, 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.
We took sweet counsel together, [and] walked to the house of God in company.
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 seize upon them, [and] let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness [is] in their dwellings, [and] among them. (Sheol h7585)
16 As for me, I cry out to God, and the Lord will save me.
As for me, I will call upon 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, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he will hear my voice.
18 He rescues me, keeping me safe and sound from my attackers, because there are so many against me.
He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle [that was] against me: for there were many 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 afflict them, even he that abideth of old. (Selah) Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not 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 put forth his hands against such as are at peace with him: he hath broken 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.
[The words] of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war [was] in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet [were] they drawn swords.
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 burden upon the LORD, and he will sustain thee: he will never suffer the righteous to be moved.
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, wilt 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.
