Psalms 55
1 For the end, among Hymns of instruction by David. Listen, O God, to my prayer; and disregard not my supplication.
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.
2 Attend to me, and listen to me: I was grieved in my (meditation) and troubled;
Attend to me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;
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.
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.
4 My heart was troubled within me; and the fear of death fell upon me.
My heart is severely pained within me: and the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
5 Fear and trembling came upon me, and darkness covered me.
Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
6 And I said, O that I had wings as [those] of a dove! then would I flee away, and be at rest.
And I said, O that I had wings like a dove! [for then] I would fly away, and be at rest.
7 Behold! I have fled afar off, and lodged in the wilderness. (Pause)
Lo, [then] I would wander far off, [and] remain in the wilderness. (Selah)
8 I waited for him that should deliver me from distress of spirit and tempest.
I would hasten my escape from the windy storm [and] tempest.
9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen iniquity and gain saying in the city.
Destroy, O LORD, [and] divide their tongues: for I have seen 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;
Day and night they go about it upon its walls: mischief also and sorrow [are] in the midst of it.
11 and usury and craft have not failed from its streets.
Wickedness [is] in the midst of it: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
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.
For [it was] not an enemy [that] reproached me; then I could have borne [it]: neither [was it] he that hated me [that] magnified [himself] against me; then I would have hid myself from him:
13 But you, O man like minded, my guide, and my acquaintance,
But [it was] thou, a man my equal, my guide, and my acquaintance.
14 who in companionship with me sweetened [our] food: we walked in the house of God in concord.
We took sweet counsel together, [and] walked to the house of God in company.
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)
Let death seize upon them, [and] let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness [is] in their dwellings, [and] among them. (Sheol h7585)
16 I cried to God, and the Lord listened to me.
As for me, I will call upon God: and 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 at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and 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].
He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle [that was] against me: for there were many with me.
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 will hear and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. (Selah) Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.
20 He has reached forth his hand for retribution; they have profaned his covenant.
He hath put forth his hands against such as are at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.
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.
[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.
22 Cast your care upon the Lord, and he shall sustain you; he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he will sustain thee: he will never suffer the righteous to be moved.
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 thou, O God, wilt 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.
