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.
God, listen to my prayer, and do not turn away from me while I am pleading with you.
2 Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;
Listen to me, and answer me, because I am overwhelmed by [all] my troubles.
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.
My enemies cause me to be terrified; wicked people oppress me. They cause me to have great troubles; they are angry with me, and they hate me.
4 My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
I am terrified, and I am very much afraid that I will die.
5 Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
I am very fearful and I tremble/shake, and I am completely terrified.
6 And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! [for then] would I fly away, and be at rest.
I said, “I wish that I had wings like a dove! If I had wings, I would fly away and find a place to rest.
7 Lo, [then] would I wander far off, [and] remain in the wilderness. (Selah)
I would fly far away and live in the desert.
8 I would hasten my escape from the windy storm [and] tempest.
I would quickly find a shelter from [my enemies] [who are like] [MET] a strong wind and rainstorm.”
9 Destroy, O Lord, [and] divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
Lord, confuse my enemies, and cause their plans to fail, because I see them acting violently and causing strife in the city [of Jerusalem].
10 Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow [are] in the midst of it.
During [each] day and night they march around on top of its walls, committing crimes and causing trouble.
11 Wickedness [is] in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
They destroy [things] everywhere. They oppress and defraud [people] in the (marketplaces/public squares).
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:
If it were an enemy who was making fun of me, I could endure it. If it were someone who hates me, who despises me, I could hide from him.
13 But [it was] thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.
But it is someone who is just like me, my companion, someone who was my friend [who is doing this to me].
14 We took sweet counsel together, [and] walked unto the house of God in company.
We previously had many good talks together; we walked around together in God’s temple.
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)
I desire/hope that my enemies will die suddenly; while they are still young, cause them to go down to the place where the dead people are. They they think evil things. (Sheol h7585)
16 As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.
But I [will] ask Yahweh, [my] God, to help me, and he will save me.
17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
[Each] morning and [each] noontime and [each] evening I tell him what I am concerned about, and I moan, 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.
I have [very] many enemies, but he will rescue me and bring me back safely from the battles that I fight.
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 is the one who has ruled everything forever, and he will listen to me. He will cause my enemies to be [defeated and] disgraced, because they do not change their evil behavior and they do not revere God.
20 He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.
My companion, [whom I mentioned previously], betrayed his friends and broke the agreement that he made with them.
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.
What he said was [easy to listen to, like] butter [is easy to swallow] [MET], but in his inner being he hated people; his words were [soothing] like [olive] oil, [but they hurt people like] sharp swords do [MET].
22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Put your troubles in Yahweh’s hands, and he will take care of you; he will never allow righteous [people] to experience disasters.
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.
God, you will cause murderers [MTY] and liars to die before they have lived half as long as they expect to live; but [as for me], I will trust in you.
