Psalms 55
1 “For the leader of the music. To be sung on stringed instruments. A psalm of David.” Give ear to my prayer, O God! Hide not thyself from my supplication!
For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Maskil of David. Listen to my prayer, O God, and do not ignore my plea.
2 Attend unto me, and hear me! I wander about mourning and wailing,
Attend to me and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and distraught
3 On account of the clamors of the enemy, On account of the violence of the wicked. For they bring evil upon me, And in wrath set themselves against me.
at the voice of the enemy, at the pressure of the wicked. For they release disaster upon me and revile me in their anger.
4 My heart trembleth in my bosom, And the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
My heart murmurs within me, and the terrors of death assail me.
5 Fear and trembling have seized me, And horror hath overwhelmed me.
Fear and trembling grip me, and horror has overwhelmed me.
6 Then I say, O that I had wings like a dove! For then would I fly away, and be at rest.
I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest.
7 Behold, I would wander far away, And take up my abode in a wilderness. (Pause)
How far away I would flee! In the wilderness I would remain.
8 I would hasten away to a shelter From the rushing wind and tempest.
I would hurry to my shelter, far from this raging tempest.”
9 Confound, O Lord! divide their counsels! For I behold violence and strife in the city.
O Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night do these go about its walls; In the midst of it are iniquity and mischief.
Day and night they encircle the walls, while malice and trouble lie within.
11 Wickedness is in the midst of it; Oppression and fraud depart not from its streets.
Destruction is within; oppression and deceit never leave the streets.
12 It was not an enemy that reviled me, Then I could have borne it; Nor one that hated me, who rose up against me; From him I could have hid myself.
For it is not an enemy who insults me; that I could endure. It is not a foe who rises against me; from him I could hide.
13 But it was thou, a man my equal, My friend, and my acquaintance.
But it is you, a man like myself, my companion and close friend.
14 We held sweet converse together, And walked to the house of God in company.
We shared sweet fellowship together; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.
15 May sudden death seize upon them! May they go down to the underworld alive! For wickedness is in their dwellings, in the midst of them. (Sheol h7585)
Let death seize them by surprise; let them go down to Sheol alive, for evil is with them in their homes. (Sheol h7585)
16 As for me, I will call upon God, And Jehovah will save me.
But I call to God, and the LORD saves me.
17 At evening, at morn, and at noon I mourn and sigh, And he will hear my voice.
Morning, noon, and night, I cry out in distress, and He hears my voice.
18 He will deliver me in peace from my conflict; For many have risen up against me.
He redeems my soul in peace from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me.
19 God will hear me, and bring them down, —He that hath been judge of old. (Pause) Because they have no changes, Therefore they fear not God.
God will hear and humiliate them— the One enthroned for the ages— (Selah) because they do not change and they have no fear of God.
20 They lift up their hands against their friend, And break their covenant with him.
My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.
21 Their speech was softer than butter, But war was in their heart; Their words were smoother than oil, Yet were they drawn swords.
His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed.
22 “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he will sustain thee; He will never suffer the righteous to fall!”
Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.
23 Yea, thou, O God! wilt bring them down into the lowest pit! Bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in thee!
But You, O God, will bring them down to the Pit of destruction; men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You.
