Psalms 55
1 For the leader. With stringed instruments. A maskil of David. Listen, God, to my prayer. Don’t hide yourself from my pleading.
Give ear to my prayer, O Elohim; and hide not thyself from my supplication.
2 Hear me, and answer; for bitter is my lament.
Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;
3 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.
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 shudders within me, terrors of deaths press on me,
My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
5 fear and trembling attack me, and horror wraps me round.
Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
6 O for the wings of a dove: I would fly away and rest.
And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.
7 I would wander far away, find refuge in the wilderness. (Selah)
Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. (Selah)
8 I would find myself a shelter from raging wind and tempest.
I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.
9 Confuse them, Lord, upset their plans; for I see violence and strife in the city.
Destroy, O YHWH, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
10 By day and by night they make their rounds on the city walls, while within is crime and trouble,
Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.
11 within is ruin. Her market-place is never free of deceit and tyranny.
Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
12 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:
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:
13 but it was you, my equal, my dear and familiar friend.
But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.
14 We used to be so close, together we walked in God’s house with the crowd.
We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of Elohim in company.
15 May death suddenly take them, may they go down to Sheol alive, for evil lives in their homes and their hearts. (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 But I will call on God, the Lord will save me.
As for me, I will call upon Elohim; and YHWH shall save me.
17 Evening and morning and noon I lament and moan. He will hear my voice;
Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
18 though I am attacked by many he will rescue me, unharmed from the war.
He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.
19 God, who sits on his ancient throne will hear and will humble them, for they never change, they never fear God. (Selah)
El shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. (Selah) Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not Elohim.
20 My friend turned against me, betrayed his word.
He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.
21 His mouth was smoother than butter, but war filled his heart. His words were softer than oil, but sharper than swords.
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 burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you. He will never let the righteous be shaken.
Cast thy burden upon YHWH, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
23 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.
But thou, O Elohim, 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.
