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 Overseer with stringed instruments. — An instruction, by David. Give ear, O God, [to] my prayer, And hide not 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 answer me, I mourn in my (meditation) 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 an enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked, For they cause sorrow to move against me, And in anger they hate me.
4 My heart thumps in agony! Terrified, I feel I'm about to die!
My heart is pained within me, And terrors of death have fallen on me.
5 I'm in a panic, trembling with fear; feelings of horror wash over me.
Fear and trembling come in to me, And horror doth cover 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 say, 'Who doth give to me a pinion as a dove? I fly away and rest,
7 I would fly far away to escape, and stay in the wilderness. (Selah)
Lo, I move far off, I lodge in a wilderness. (Selah)
8 I would hurry to a place to hide, out of the wind, safe from the raging storm.
I hasten escape for myself, From a rushing wind, from a whirlwind.
9 Confuse them, Lord! Muddle what they're saying, for I see violence and conflict in the city.
Swallow up, O Lord, divide their tongue, For I saw violence and strife in a city.
10 They patrol the city walls day and night, and wickedness and trouble are within the city.
By day and by night they go round it, on its walls. Both iniquity and perverseness [are] in its midst,
11 The ones causing destruction are inside the city; frauds and cheats are always on the streets.
Mischiefs [are] in its midst. Fraud and deceit depart not from its street.
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 an enemy reproacheth me not, or I bear [it], He who is hating me Hath not magnified himself against me, Or I hide from him.
13 No, it's you, a man just like me, my best friend who I know so well!
But thou, a man — as mine equal, My familiar friend, and mine acquaintance.
14 Our friendship was so close. We used to have great talks together as we walked with everyone to the house of God.
When together we sweeten counsel, Into the house of God we walk 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)
Desolations [are] upon them, They go down [to] Sheol — alive, For wickedness [is] in their dwelling, in their midst. (Sheol h7585)
16 As for me, I cry out to God, and the Lord will save me.
I — to God I call, and Jehovah saveth me.
17 I weep and groan morning, noon, and night, and he listens to me.
Evening, and morning, and noon, I meditate, and make a noise, and He heareth my voice,
18 He rescues me, keeping me safe and sound from my attackers, because there are so many against me.
He hath ransomed in peace my soul From him who is near to me, For with the multitude 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 doth hear and afflict them, And He sitteth of old. (Selah) Because they have no changes, and 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 sent forth his hands against his well-wishers, He hath polluted 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.
Sweeter than honey hath been his mouth, And his heart [is] war! Softer have been his words than oil, And they [are] 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 on Jehovah that which He hath given thee, And He doth sustain thee, He doth not suffer for ever the moving of the righteous.
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.
And Thou, O God, dost bring them down To a pit of destruction, Men of blood and deceit reach not to half their days, And I — I do trust in Thee!
