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 OVERSEER. WITH STRINGED INSTRUMENTS. AN INSTRUCTION OF DAVID. Give ear, O God, [to] my prayer, And do not hide from my supplication.

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

Attend to me, and answer me, I mourn in my (meditation) 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 an enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked, For they cause sorrow to move against me, And in anger they hate me.

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

My heart is pained within me, And terrors of death have fallen on me.

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

Fear and trembling come to me, And horror covers me.

6 And I said: 'Oh that I had wings like a dove! then would I fly away, and be at rest.

And I say, “Who gives to me a pinion as a dove?” I fly away and rest,

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

Behold, I move far off, I lodge in a wilderness. (Selah)

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

I hurry escape for myself, From a rushing wind, from a whirlwind.

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

Swallow up, O Lord, divide their tongue, For I saw violence and strife in a city.

10 Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof; iniquity also and mischief are in the midst of it.

By day and by night they go around it, on its walls. Both iniquity and perverseness [are] in its midst,

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

Mischiefs [are] in its midst. Fraud and deceit do not depart from its street.

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 an enemy does not reproach me, or I bear [it], He who is hating me Has not magnified himself against me, Or I hide from him.

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

But you, a man—as my equal, My familiar friend, and my acquaintance.

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

When together we sweeten counsel, We walk into 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)

Desolations [are] on them, They go down [to] Sheol—alive, For wickedness [is] in their dwelling, in their midst. (Sheol h7585)

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

I call to God, and YHWH saves me.

17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I complain, and moan; and He hath heard my voice.

Evening, and morning, and noon, I meditate, and make a noise, and He hears 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 has ransomed my soul in peace From him who is near to me, For with the multitude 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 hears and afflicts them, And He sits of old. (Selah) Because they have no changes, and do not fear God,

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

He has sent forth his hands against his well-wishers, He has defiled 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.

His mouth has been sweeter than honey, And his heart [is] war! His words have been softer than oil, And they [are] drawn [swords].

22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He will sustain thee; He will never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Cast on YHWH that which He has given you, And He sustains you, He does not permit the moving of the righteous 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.

And You, O God, bring them down To a pit of destruction, Men of blood and deceit do not reach to half their days, And I trust in You!