< Psalms 55 >
1 Give ear to my prayer, O God; 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 mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;
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 affliction upon me, and in wrath they hate 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 is sore pained 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 Fearfulness and trembling are 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! for 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, and remain in the wilderness. (Selah)
Lo! I would take a distant flight, I would tarry in the wilderness. (Selah)
8 I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.
I would hasten mine escape, From rushing wind, from storm.
9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: 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: mischief also and sorrow 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: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
Engulfing ruin, is in her midst, And there depart not from her broadway, oppression and deceit.
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 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 guide, and mine acquaintance.
But it is, thou, a man esteemed as mine equal, mine associate, and mine acquaintance;
14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.
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 Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them. (Sheol )
Desolations on them! Let them go down into hades alive, For, wicked doings, are at home within them. (Sheol )
16 As for me, I will call upon God; And Yhwh shall save me.
I, unto God, will cry, —And, Yahweh, will save me.
17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear 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 delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many 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 afflict them, even he that abideth of old. (Selah) Because they have no changes, therefore they 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 such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.
He hath thrust forth his hands, against them he was wont to salute, he hath violated 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.
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 Yhwh, and he shall sustain thee: he shall 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, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but 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.