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, a Maskil of David.” Give ear, O God, to my prayer, and hide not thyself from my supplication.

2 Attend unto me, and hear me; I am distraught in my complaint, and will moan;

Listen unto me, and answer me: I mourn in my grief, and moan;

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 wrong upon me, and in wrath they attack me.

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

My heart is sorely 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 shuddering hath 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, Oh that some one would give me wings like a dove! I would fly away and dwell [quietly].

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

Lo, I would flee far away, I would spend my night in the wilderness. (Selah)

8 I would haste me to a shelter from the stormy wind and tempest.'

I would prepare hastily a refuge for me from the sweeping wind [and] from storm.

9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongue; for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

Destroy, O 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 do these encompass it upon her walls: and wrong and trouble are in her midst.

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

Mischief is in her midst: guile and deceit 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 is not an enemy that reproached me; then I could bear it: not he that hateth me hath magnified himself against me; then I would have hidden myself from him;

13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, my companion, and my familiar friend;

But it is thou, a man my equal, my guide, and my acquaintance;

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

So that we took sweet secret counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in tumultuous 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 him dispense death over them; let them go down alive into the nether world; for evil is in their dwelling, in the midst of them. (Sheol h7585)

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

I, however, will call on 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.

At evening and morning and noon will I make my complaint and moan: and he heareth 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 delivereth my soul in peace from the battle against me; for in multitudes are they [contending] 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 humble them—yea, he that sitteth enthroned from the oldest time Selah—those who dread no changes, and fear not God.

20 He hath put forth his hands against them that were at peace with him; he hath profaned his covenant.

He stretcheth out his hands against those at peace with him: he violateth 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 creamy words of his mouth are smooth, yet there is war [in] his heart; his words are 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 the Lord, 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.

But thou, O God, thou wilt bring them down into the pit of destruction: let not the men of blood and deceit live out half their days; but I will indeed trust in thee.