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: with stringed Instruments. A Psalm of Instruction, of David. Give ear, O God, to my prayer, And do not hide 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 may ramble in my complaining, And be driven to and fro—
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 noise of the enemy, By reason of the oppression of the lawless one, For they would let trouble drop upon me, And, in anger, would they entrap me.
4 My heart doth writhe within me; and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
My heart, would writhe within me, And, the terrors of Death, have fallen upon me:
5 Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
Fear and trembling, would enter me, And there would have overwhelmed me—a horror!
6 And I said: 'Oh that I had wings like a dove! then would I fly away, and be at rest.
Then I said—Oh that there were given me a pinion, 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)
Lo! I would take a distant flight, I would tarry in the wilderness. (Selah)
8 I would haste me to a shelter from the stormy wind and tempest.'
I would hasten mine escape, From rushing wind, from storm.
9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongue; for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
Confuse, O My Lord, divide their speech, For I have seen violence and contention 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 round her, upon her walls, And, trouble and misery, are in her midst;
11 Wickedness is in the midst thereof; oppression and guile depart not from her broad place.
Engulfing ruin, is in her midst, And there depart not from her broadway, oppression and deceit.
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 reproacheth me, Or I could bear it, —Not one that hath hated me, who, against me, hath magnified himself, Or I might hide myself from him;
13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, my companion, and my familiar friend;
But it is, thou, a man esteemed as mine equal, mine associate, and mine acquaintance;
14 We took sweet counsel together, in the house of God we walked with the throng.
So that together have we been wont to find sweetness in counsel, In the house of God, used we to walk in 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)
Desolations on them! Let them go down into hades alive, For, wicked doings, are at home within them. (Sheol h7585)
16 As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.
I, unto God, will cry, —And, Yahweh, 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 high noon, have I been wont to lament and complain, And he hath heard 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 completely redeemed my soul, out of the attack upon me, For, in multitudes, were they [in conflict] 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, Yea He will humble them who aforetime sat [enthroned]. (Selah) With whom are no changings, Neither have they revered God.
20 He hath put forth his hands against them that were at peace with him; he hath profaned his covenant.
He hath thrust forth his hands, against them he was wont to salute, he hath violated 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.
Smoother than curds, were [the words of] his mouth, But, war, was [in] his heart, —Softer his words than oil, Yet, they, were drawn swords!
22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He will sustain thee; He will never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Cast upon Yahweh thy lot, and, he, will sustain thee: He will not suffer, to times age-abiding, the righteous one to be shaken.
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, wilt bring them down to the pit of destruction, Men of bloodshed and deceit, shall not live out half their days; But, I, will trust in thee.
