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.
To the chief Musician. On stringed instruments: an instruction. Of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.
2 Attend unto me, and hear me; I am distraught in my complaint, and will moan;
Attend unto me, and answer me: I wander about in my plaint, and I moan aloud,
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; because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in anger they persecute me.
4 My heart doth writhe within me; and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
My heart is writhing within me, and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
5 Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
Fear and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed 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, Oh that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away, and be at rest;
7 Lo, then would I wander far off, I would lodge in the wilderness. (Selah)
Behold, I would flee afar off, I would lodge in the wilderness; (Selah)
8 I would haste me to a shelter from the stormy wind and tempest.'
I would hasten my escape from the stormy wind, from the tempest.
9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongue; for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
Swallow [them] up, Lord; divide their tongue: for I have seen violence and strife 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 they go about it upon the walls thereof; and iniquity and mischief are in the midst of it.
11 Wickedness is in the midst thereof; oppression and guile depart not from her broad place.
Perversities are in the midst thereof; and oppression and deceit depart not 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 it is not an enemy that hath reproached me — then could I have borne it; neither is it he that hateth me that hath magnified [himself] against me — then would I have hidden myself from him;
13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, my companion, and my familiar friend;
But it was thou, a man mine equal, mine intimate, my familiar friend. ...
14 We took sweet counsel together, in the house of God we walked with the throng.
We who held sweet intercourse together. To the house of God we walked amid the throng.
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 seize upon them, let them go down alive into Sheol. For wickedness is in their dwellings, in their midst. (Sheol h7585)
16 As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.
As for me, unto God will I call; and Jehovah 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 at noon, will I pray and moan aloud; and he will 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 hath redeemed my soul in peace from the battle against me: for there were many about 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 afflict them: he that is seated of old, (Selah) ...because there is no change in them, and they fear not God.
20 He hath put forth his hands against them that were at peace with him; he hath profaned his covenant.
He hath put forth his hands against such as are at peace with him; he hath 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.
Smooth were the milky [words] of his mouth, but his heart was war; his words were softer than oil, yet are they drawn swords.
22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He will sustain thee; He will never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Cast thy burden upon Jehovah, and he will sustain thee: he will 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.
And thou, O God, wilt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days. But as for me, I will confide in thee.
