Psalms 55
1 To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, [A Psalm] of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.
For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Maskil of David. Listen to my prayer, O God, and do not ignore my plea.
2 Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;
Attend to me and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and distraught
3 Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.
at the voice of the enemy, at the pressure of the wicked. For they release disaster upon me and revile me in their anger.
4 My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
My heart murmurs within me, and the terrors of death assail me.
5 Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
Fear and trembling grip me, and horror has overwhelmed me.
6 And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! [for then] would I fly away, and be at rest.
I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest.
7 Lo, [then] would I wander far off, [and] remain in the wilderness. (Selah)
How far away I would flee! In the wilderness I would remain.
8 I would hasten my escape from the windy storm [and] tempest.
I would hurry to my shelter, far from this raging tempest.”
9 Destroy, O Lord, [and] divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
O Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife 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 encircle the walls, while malice and trouble lie within.
11 Wickedness [is] in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
Destruction is within; oppression and deceit never leave the 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 it is not an enemy who insults me; that I could endure. It is not a foe who rises against me; from him I could hide.
13 But [it was] thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.
But it is you, a man like myself, my companion and close friend.
14 We took sweet counsel together, [and] walked unto the house of God in company.
We shared sweet fellowship together; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.
15 Let death seize upon them, [and] let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness [is] in their dwellings, [and] among them. (Sheol h7585)
Let death seize them by surprise; let them go down to Sheol alive, for evil is with them in their homes. (Sheol h7585)
16 As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.
But I call to God, and the LORD saves me.
17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
Morning, noon, and night, I cry out in distress, and He hears my voice.
18 He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle [that was] against me: for there were many with me.
He redeems my soul in peace from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose 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 and humiliate them— the One enthroned for the ages— (Selah) because they do not change and they have no fear of God.
20 He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.
My companion attacks his friends; he violates 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.
His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed.
22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous 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 You, O God, will bring them down to the Pit of destruction; men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You.
