Psalms 55
1 For the end, among Hymns of instruction by David. Listen, O God, to my prayer; and disregard not 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 to me, and listen to me: I was grieved in my (meditation) and troubled;
Hear me, and answer; for bitter is my lament.
3 because of the voice of the enemy, and because of the oppression of the sinner: for they brought iniquity against me, and were wrathfully angry with me.
I am wild with the noise of the foe, with the clamor of the ungodly; for they hurl disaster upon me, and attack me with fury.
4 My heart was troubled within me; and the fear of death fell upon me.
My heart shudders within me, terrors of deaths press on me,
5 Fear and trembling came upon me, and darkness covered me.
fear and trembling attack me, and horror wraps me round.
6 And I said, O that I had wings as [those] of a dove! then would I flee away, and be at rest.
O for the wings of a dove: I would fly away and rest.
7 Behold! I have fled afar off, and lodged in the wilderness. (Pause)
I would wander far away, find refuge in the wilderness. (Selah)
8 I waited for him that should deliver me from distress of spirit 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 iniquity and gain saying in the city.
Confuse them, Lord, upset their plans; for I see violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night he shall go round about it upon its walls: iniquity and sorrow and unrighteousness [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 and usury and craft have not failed from its streets.
within is ruin. Her market-place is never free of deceit and tyranny.
12 For if an enemy had reproached me, I would have endured it; and if one who hated [me] had spoken vauntingly against me, 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 you, O man like minded, my guide, and my acquaintance,
but it was you, my equal, my dear and familiar friend.
14 who in companionship with me sweetened [our] food: we walked in the house of God in concord.
We used to be so close, together we walked in God’s house with the crowd.
15 Let death come upon them, and let them go down alive into Hades, for iniquity is in their dwellings, in the midst of 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 I cried to God, and the Lord listened to me.
But I will call on God, the Lord will save me.
17 Evening, and morning, and at noon I will declare and make known [my wants]: and he shall hear my voice.
Evening and morning and noon I lament and moan. He will hear my voice;
18 He shall deliver my soul in peace from them that draw near to me: for they were with me in many [cases].
though I am attacked by many he will rescue me, unharmed from the war.
19 God shall hear, and bring them low, [even] he that has existed from eternity. (Pause) For they suffer no reverse, and [therefore] they have not feared 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 has reached forth his hand for retribution; they have profaned his covenant.
My friend turned against me, betrayed his word.
21 They were scattered at the anger of his countenance, and his heart drew near them. His words were smoother than oil, yet are they darts.
His mouth was smoother than butter, but war filled his heart. His words were softer than oil, but sharper than swords.
22 Cast your care upon the Lord, and he shall sustain you; 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 you, O God, shall bring them down to the pit of destruction; bloody and crafty men shall not live out half their days; but I will hope in you, O Lord.
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.
