Psalms 55
1 Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not yourself 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 to me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;
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 iniquity on me, and in wrath they hate 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 is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen on me.
My heart is pained within me, And terrors of death have fallen on me.
5 Fearfulness and trembling are come on me, and horror has 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! for 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 See, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. (Selah)
Lo, I move far off, I lodge in a wilderness. (Selah)
8 I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.
I hasten escape for myself, From a rushing wind, from a whirlwind.
9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: 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 on the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the middle 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 middle thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
Mischiefs [are] in its midst. Fraud and deceit depart not from its street.
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 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 you, a man my equal, my guide, and my acquaintance.
But thou, a man — as mine equal, My familiar friend, and mine acquaintance.
14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked to the house of God in company.
When together we sweeten counsel, Into the house of God we walk in company.
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)
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 on 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 pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
Evening, and morning, and noon, I meditate, and make a noise, and He heareth my voice,
18 He has delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many 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 afflict them, even he that stays of old. (Selah) Because they have no changes, therefore they 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 has put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he has broken his covenant.
He hath sent forth his hands against his well-wishers, He hath polluted 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.
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 your burden on the LORD, and he shall sustain you: he shall 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 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.
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!
