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.
Unto the end. In verses, the understanding of David. Listen to my prayer, O God, and despise not my supplication.
2 Attend unto me, and hear me; I am distraught in my complaint, and will moan;
Be attentive to me, and heed me. I have been grieved in my training, and I have been disturbed
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.
at the voice of the adversary and at the tribulation of the sinner. For they have diverted iniquities toward me, and they have been harassing me with rage.
4 My heart doth writhe within me; and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
My heart has become disturbed within me, and the dread of death has fallen over me.
5 Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
Fear and trembling have overwhelmed me, and darkness has buried 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, “Who will give me wings like the dove, so that I may fly away and take rest?”
7 Lo, then would I wander far off, I would lodge in the wilderness. (Selah)
Behold, I have fled far away, and I linger in solitude.
8 I would haste me to a shelter from the stormy wind and tempest.'
I waited for him who saved me from a weak-minded spirit and from a tempest.
9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongue; for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
Cast them down, O Lord, and divide their tongues. For I have seen iniquity and contradiction 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, iniquity will surround it upon its walls, and hardship is in its midst,
11 Wickedness is in the midst thereof; oppression and guile depart not from her broad place.
with injustice. And usury and deceit have not fallen away 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 my enemy had spoken evil about me, certainly, I would have sustained it. And if he who hated me had been speaking great things against me, I would perhaps have hidden myself from him.
13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, my companion, and my familiar friend;
Truly, you are a man of one mind: my leader and my acquaintance,
14 We took sweet counsel together, in the house of God we walked with the throng.
who took sweet food together with me. In the house of God, we walked side-by-side.
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 descend alive into Hellfire. For there is wickedness in their dwellings, in their midst. (Sheol h7585)
16 As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.
But I have cried out to God, and the Lord will save me.
17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I complain, and moan; and He hath heard my voice.
Evening and morning and midday, I will discourse and announce, and he will heed 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 will redeem my soul in peace from those who draw near to me. For, among the many, they were with me.
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 will hear, and He who is before time will humble them. For there is no change with them, and 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 stretched forth his hand in retribution. They have contaminated 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 divided by the wrath of his countenance, and his heart has drawn near. His words are smoother than oil, and they are arrows.
22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He will sustain thee; He will never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Cast your cares upon the Lord, and he will nurture you. He will not allow the just to be tossed about forever.
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.
Truly, O God, you will lead them away into the well of death. Bloody and deceitful men will not divide their days in half. But I will hope in you, O Lord.
