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 Neginoth, Maschil, [A Psalm] 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 hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;

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 wrath they hate me.

4 My heart doth writhe within me; and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.

My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.

5 Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.

Fearfulness 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! [for then] would I fly away, and be at rest.

7 Lo, then would I wander far off, I would lodge in the wilderness. (Selah)

Lo, [then] would I wander far off, [and] remain 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 windy storm [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 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: mischief also and sorrow [are] in the midst of it.

11 Wickedness is in the midst thereof; oppression and guile depart not from her broad place.

Wickedness [is] in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her 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 was] not an enemy [that] reproached me; then I could have borne [it: ] neither [was it] he that hated me [that] did magnify [himself] against me; then I would have hid 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, my guide, and mine acquaintance.

14 We took sweet counsel together, in the house of God we walked with the throng.

We took sweet counsel together, [and] walked unto the house of God in company.

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, [and] let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness [is] in their dwellings, [and] among them. (Sheol h7585)

16 As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.

As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall 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 cry aloud: 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 hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle [that was] against me: for there were many 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 shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. (Selah) Because they have no changes, therefore 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 be at peace with him: he hath broken 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.

[The words] of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war [was] in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet [were] 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 the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: 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 thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.