Psalms 55
1 To him that excelleth on Neginoth. A Psalme of David to give instruction. Heare my prayer, O God, and hide not thy selfe from my supplication.
God, listen to my prayer, and do not turn away from me while I am pleading with you.
2 Hearken vnto me, and answere me: I mourne in my prayer, and make a noyse,
Listen to me, and answer me, because I am overwhelmed by [all] my troubles.
3 For the voyce of the enemie, and for the vexation of ye wicked, because they haue brought iniquitie vpon me, and furiously hate me.
My enemies cause me to be terrified; wicked people oppress me. They cause me to have great troubles; they are angry with me, and they hate me.
4 Mine heart trembleth within mee, and the terrours of death are fallen vpon me.
I am terrified, and I am very much afraid that I will die.
5 Feare and trembling are come vpon mee, and an horrible feare hath couered me.
I am very fearful and I tremble/shake, and I am completely terrified.
6 And I said, Oh that I had wings like a doue: then would I flie away and rest.
I said, “I wish that I had wings like a dove! If I had wings, I would fly away and find a place to rest.
7 Beholde, I woulde take my flight farre off, and lodge in the wildernes. (Selah)
I would fly far away and live in the desert.
8 Hee would make haste for my deliuerance from the stormie winde and tempest.
I would quickly find a shelter from [my enemies] [who are like] [MET] a strong wind and rainstorm.”
9 Destroy, O Lord, and deuide their tongues: for I haue seene crueltie and strife in the citie.
Lord, confuse my enemies, and cause their plans to fail, because I see them acting violently and causing strife in the city [of Jerusalem].
10 Day and night they goe about it vpon the walles thereof: both iniquitie and mischiefe are in the middes of it.
During [each] day and night they march around on top of its walls, committing crimes and causing trouble.
11 Wickednes is in the middes thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streetes.
They destroy [things] everywhere. They oppress and defraud [people] in the (marketplaces/public squares).
12 Surely mine enemie did not defame mee: for I could haue borne it: neither did mine aduersarie exalt himselfe against mee: for I would haue hid me from him.
If it were an enemy who was making fun of me, I could endure it. If it were someone who hates me, who despises me, I could hide from him.
13 But it was thou, O man, euen my companion, my guide and my familiar:
But it is someone who is just like me, my companion, someone who was my friend [who is doing this to me].
14 Which delited in consulting together, and went into the House of God as companions.
We previously had many good talks together; we walked around together in God’s temple.
15 Let death sense vpon them: let them goe downe quicke into the graue: for wickednes is in their dwellings, euen in the middes of them. (Sheol h7585)
I desire/hope that my enemies will die suddenly; while they are still young, cause them to go down to the place where the dead people are. They they think evil things. (Sheol h7585)
16 But I will call vnto God, and the Lord will saue me.
But I [will] ask Yahweh, [my] God, to help me, and he will save me.
17 Euening and morning, and at noone will I pray, and make a noyse, and he wil heare my voice.
[Each] morning and [each] noontime and [each] evening I tell him what I am concerned about, and I moan, and he hears my voice.
18 He hath deliuered my soule in peace from the battel, that was against me: for many were with me.
I have [very] many enemies, but he will rescue me and bring me back safely from the battles that I fight.
19 God shall heare and afflict them, euen hee that reigneth of olde, (Selah) because they haue no changes, therefore they feare not God.
God is the one who has ruled everything forever, and he will listen to me. He will cause my enemies to be [defeated and] disgraced, because they do not change their evil behavior and they do not revere God.
20 Hee layed his hande vpon such, as be at peace with him, and he brake his couenant.
My companion, [whom I mentioned previously], betrayed his friends and broke the agreement that he made with them.
21 The wordes of his mouth were softer then butter, yet warre was in his heart: his words were more gentle then oyle, yet they were swordes.
What he said was [easy to listen to, like] butter [is easy to swallow] [MET], but in his inner being he hated people; his words were [soothing] like [olive] oil, [but they hurt people like] sharp swords do [MET].
22 Cast thy burden vpon the Lord, and hee shall nourish thee: he wil not suffer the righteous to fall for euer.
Put your troubles in Yahweh’s hands, and he will take care of you; he will never allow righteous [people] to experience disasters.
23 And thou, O God, shalt bring them downe into the pitte of corruption: the bloudie, and deceitfull men shall not liue halfe their dayes: but I will trust in thee.
God, you will cause murderers [MTY] and liars to die before they have lived half as long as they expect to live; but [as for me], I will trust in you.
