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, by David. Give ear, O God, [to] my prayer, And hide not 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 in to me, And horror doth cover 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 doth give 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)

Lo, 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 hasten 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 round 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 depart not 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 reproacheth me not, or I bear [it], He who is hating me Hath 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 thou, a man — as mine equal, My familiar friend, and mine acquaintance.

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

When together we sweeten counsel, Into the house of God we walk 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] upon 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 — to God I call, and Jehovah saveth 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 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 hath ransomed in peace my soul 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 doth hear and afflict them, And He sitteth of old. (Selah) Because they have 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 hath sent forth his hands against his well-wishers, He hath polluted 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.

Sweeter than honey hath been his mouth, And his heart [is] war! Softer have been his words 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 Jehovah that which He hath given thee, And He doth sustain thee, He doth not suffer for ever the moving of the righteous.

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