Psalms 55
1 For the Leader; with string-music. Maschil of David. Give ear, O God, to my prayer; and hide not Thyself from my supplication.
For the end, amongst Hymns of instruction by David. Listen, O God, to my prayer; and disregard not my supplication.
2 Attend unto me, and hear me; I am distraught in my complaint, and will moan;
Attend to me, and listen to me: I was grieved in my (meditation) and troubled;
3 Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked; for they cast mischief upon me, and in anger they persecute me.
because of the voice of the enemy, and because of the oppression of the sinner: for they brought iniquity against me, and were wrathfully angry with me.
4 My heart doth writhe within me; and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
My heart was troubled within me; and the fear of death fell upon me.
5 Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
Fear and trembling came upon me, and darkness covered me.
6 And I said: 'Oh that I had wings like a dove! then would I fly away, and be at rest.
And I said, O that I had wings as [those] of a dove! then would I flee away, and be at rest.
7 Lo, then would I wander far off, I would lodge in the wilderness. (Selah)
Behold! I have fled afar off, and lodged in the wilderness. (Pause)
8 I would haste me to a shelter from the stormy wind and tempest.'
I waited for him that should deliver me from distress of spirit and tempest.
9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongue; for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen iniquity and gain saying in the city.
10 Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof; iniquity also and mischief are in the midst of it.
Day and night he shall go round about it upon its walls: iniquity and sorrow and unrighteousness [are] in the midst of it;
11 Wickedness is in the midst thereof; oppression and guile depart not from her broad place.
and usury and craft have not failed from its streets.
12 For it was not an enemy that taunted me, then I could have borne it; neither was it mine adversary that did magnify himself against me, then I would have hid myself from him.
For if an enemy had reproached me, I would have endured it; and if one who hated [me] had spoken vauntingly against me, I would have hid myself from him.
13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, my companion, and my familiar friend;
But you, O man like minded, my guide, and my acquaintance,
14 We took sweet counsel together, in the house of God we walked with the throng.
who in companionship with me sweetened [our] food: we walked in the house of God in concord.
15 May He incite death against them, let them go down alive into the nether-world; for evil is in their dwelling, and within them. (Sheol h7585)
Let death come upon them, and let them go down alive into Hades, for iniquity is in their dwellings, in the midst of them. (Sheol h7585)
16 As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.
I cried to God, and the Lord listened to me.
17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I complain, and moan; and He hath heard my voice.
Evening, and morning, and at noon I will declare and make known [my wants]: and he shall hear my voice.
18 He hath redeemed my soul in peace so that none came nigh me; for they were many that strove with me.
He shall deliver my soul in peace from them that draw near to me: for they were with me in many [cases].
19 God shall hear, and humble them, even He that is enthroned of old, (Selah) such as have no changes, and fear not God.
God shall hear, and bring them low, [even] he that has existed from eternity. (Pause) For they suffer no reverse, and [therefore] they have not feared God.
20 He hath put forth his hands against them that were at peace with him; he hath profaned his covenant.
He has reached forth his hand for retribution; they have profaned his covenant.
21 Smoother than cream were the speeches of his mouth, but his heart was war; his words were softer than oil, yet were they keen-edged swords.
They were scattered at the anger of his countenance, and his heart drew near them. His words were smoother than oil, yet are they darts.
22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He will sustain thee; He will never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Cast your care upon the Lord, and he shall sustain you; he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
23 But Thou, O God, wilt bring them down into the nethermost pit; men of blood and deceit shall not live out half their days; but as for me, I will trust in Thee.
But you, O God, shall bring them down to the pit of destruction; bloody and crafty men shall not live out half their days; but I will hope in you, O Lord.
