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 leader. With stringed instruments. A maskil of David. Listen, God, to my prayer. Don’t hide yourself from my pleading.
2 Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;
Hear me, and answer; for bitter is my lament.
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.
I am wild with the noise of the foe, with the clamour of the ungodly; for they hurl disaster upon me, and attack me with fury.
4 My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
My heart shudders within me, terrors of deaths press on me,
5 Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
fear and trembling attack me, and horror wraps me round.
6 And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! [for then] would I fly away, and be at rest.
O for the wings of a dove: I would fly away and rest.
7 Lo, [then] would I wander far off, [and] remain in the wilderness. (Selah)
I would wander far away, find refuge in the wilderness. (Selah)
8 I would hasten my escape from the windy storm [and] tempest.
I would find myself a shelter from raging wind and tempest.
9 Destroy, O Lord, [and] divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
Confuse them, Lord, upset their plans; 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.
By day and by night they make their rounds on the city walls, while within is crime and trouble,
11 Wickedness [is] in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
within is ruin. Her market-place is never free of deceit and tyranny.
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:
The taunts were not those of a foe that I could have borne; the disdain was not that of an enemy I could have shunned them:
13 But [it was] thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.
but it was you, my equal, my dear and familiar friend.
14 We took sweet counsel together, [and] walked unto the house of God in company.
We used to be so close, together we walked in God’s house with the crowd.
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)
May death suddenly take them, may they go down to Sheol alive, for evil lives in their homes and their hearts. (Sheol h7585)
16 As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.
But I will call on God, the Lord 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 noon I lament and moan. 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.
though I am attacked by many he will rescue me, unharmed from the war.
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, who sits on his ancient throne will hear and will humble them, for they never change, they never fear God. (Selah)
20 He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.
My friend turned against me, betrayed his word.
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 mouth was smoother than butter, but war filled his heart. His words were softer than oil, but sharper than swords.
22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Cast your burden on 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, God, will hurl them down to the deepest pit. Bloody and treacherous people will not live out half their days; but I will trust you.
