Psalms 55

1 Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not yourself from my supplication.

For the end, among Hymns of instruction by David. Listen, O God, to my prayer; and disregard not my supplication.

2 Attend to me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;

Attend to me, and listen to me: I was grieved in my (meditation) and troubled;

3 Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity on me, and in wrath they hate me.

because of the voice of the enemy, and because of the oppression of the sinner: for they brought iniquity against me, and were wrathfully angry with me.

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

My heart was troubled within me; and the fear of death fell upon me.

5 Fearfulness and trembling are come on me, and horror has overwhelmed me.

Fear and trembling came upon me, and darkness covered me.

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

And I said, O that I had wings as [those] of a dove! then would I flee away, and be at rest.

7 See, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. (Selah)

Behold! I have fled afar off, and lodged in the wilderness. (Pause)

8 I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.

I waited for him that should deliver me from distress of spirit and tempest.

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

Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen iniquity and gain saying in the city.

10 Day and night they go about it on the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the middle of it.

Day and night he shall go round about it upon its walls: iniquity and sorrow and unrighteousness [are] in the midst of it;

11 Wickedness is in the middle thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.

and usury and craft have not failed from its streets.

12 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:

For if an enemy had reproached me, I would have endured it; and if one who hated [me] had spoken vauntingly against me, I would have hid myself from him.

13 But it was you, a man my equal, my guide, and my acquaintance.

But you, O man like minded, my guide, and my acquaintance,

14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked to the house of God in company.

who in companionship with me sweetened [our] food: we walked in the house of God in concord.

15 Let death seize on them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them. (Sheol h7585)

Let death come upon them, and let them go down alive into Hades, for iniquity is in their dwellings, in the midst of them. (Sheol h7585)

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

I cried to God, and the Lord listened to me.

17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

Evening, and morning, and at noon I will declare and make known [my wants]: and he shall hear my voice.

18 He has delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.

He shall deliver my soul in peace from them that draw near to me: for they were with me in many [cases].

19 God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that stays of old. (Selah) Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.

God shall hear, and bring them low, [even] he that has existed from eternity. (Pause) For they suffer no reverse, and [therefore] they have not feared God.

20 He has put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he has broken his covenant.

He has reached forth his hand for retribution; they have profaned his covenant.

21 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.

They were scattered at the anger of his countenance, and his heart drew near them. His words were smoother than oil, yet are they darts.

22 Cast your burden on the LORD, and he shall sustain you: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Cast your care upon the Lord, and he shall sustain you; he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

23 But you, O God, shall bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in you.

But you, O God, shall bring them down to the pit of destruction; bloody and crafty men shall not live out half their days; but I will hope in you, O Lord.