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.

To the chief Musician. On stringed instruments: an instruction. Of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not 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 wander about in my plaint, and I moan aloud,

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.

Because of the voice of the enemy; because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in anger they persecute me.

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

My heart is writhing within me, and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.

5 Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.

Fear and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed 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, Oh that I had wings 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)

Behold, I would flee afar off, I would lodge in the wilderness; (Selah)

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

I would hasten my escape from the stormy wind, from the tempest.

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

Swallow [them] up, Lord; divide their tongue: for I have seen 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 go about it upon the walls thereof; and iniquity and mischief are in the midst of it.

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

Perversities are in the midst thereof; and oppression and deceit depart not 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 it is not an enemy that hath reproached me — then could I have borne it; neither is it he that hateth me that hath magnified [himself] against me — then would I have hidden myself from him;

13 But [it was] thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.

But it was thou, a man mine equal, mine intimate, my familiar friend. ...

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

We who held sweet intercourse together. To the house of God we walked amid 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 h7585)

Let death seize upon them, let them go down alive into Sheol. For wickedness is in their dwellings, in their midst. (Sheol h7585)

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

As for me, unto God will I call; and Jehovah will save 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, will I pray and moan aloud; and he will hear 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 redeemed my soul in peace from the battle against me: for there were many about 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 afflict them: he that is seated of old, (Selah) ...because there is no change in them, and they fear not God.

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

He hath put forth his hands against such as are at peace with him; he hath 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.

Smooth were the milky [words] of his mouth, but his heart was war; his words were softer than oil, yet are they drawn swords.

22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Cast thy burden upon Jehovah, and he will sustain thee: he will never suffer the righteous to be moved.

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.

And thou, O God, wilt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days. But as for me, I will confide in thee.