Psalms 55
1 To the Chief Musician: with stringed Instruments. A Psalm of Instruction, of David. Give ear, O God, to my prayer, And do not hide thyself from my supplication:
TO THE OVERSEER. WITH STRINGED INSTRUMENTS. AN INSTRUCTION OF DAVID. Give ear, O God, [to] my prayer, And do not hide from my supplication.
2 Attend unto me, and answer me, I may ramble in my complaining, And be driven to and fro—
Attend to me, and answer me, I mourn in my (meditation) and make a noise,
3 Because of the noise of the enemy, By reason of the oppression of the lawless one, For they would let trouble drop upon me, And, in anger, would they entrap me.
Because of the voice of an enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked, For they cause sorrow to move against me, And in anger they hate me.
4 My heart, would writhe within me, And, the terrors of Death, have fallen upon me:
My heart is pained within me, And terrors of death have fallen on me.
5 Fear and trembling, would enter me, And there would have overwhelmed me—a horror!
Fear and trembling come to me, And horror covers me.
6 Then I said—Oh that there were given me a pinion, like a dove, I would fly away and be at rest:
And I say, “Who gives to me a pinion as a dove?” I fly away and rest,
7 Lo! I would take a distant flight, I would tarry in the wilderness. (Selah)
Behold, I move far off, I lodge in a wilderness. (Selah)
8 I would hasten mine escape, From rushing wind, from storm.
I hurry escape for myself, From a rushing wind, from a whirlwind.
9 Confuse, O My Lord, divide their speech, For I have seen violence and contention in the city;
Swallow up, O Lord, divide their tongue, For I saw violence and strife in a city.
10 Day and night, they go round her, upon her walls, And, trouble and misery, are in her midst;
By day and by night they go around it, on its walls. Both iniquity and perverseness [are] in its midst,
11 Engulfing ruin, is in her midst, And there depart not from her broadway, oppression and deceit.
Mischiefs [are] in its midst. Fraud and deceit do not depart from its street.
12 For it is, not an enemy, that reproacheth me, Or I could bear it, —Not one that hath hated me, who, against me, hath magnified himself, Or I might hide myself from him;
For an enemy does not reproach me, or I bear [it], He who is hating me Has not magnified himself against me, Or I hide from him.
13 But it is, thou, a man esteemed as mine equal, mine associate, and mine acquaintance;
But you, a man—as my equal, My familiar friend, and my acquaintance.
14 So that together have we been wont to find sweetness in counsel, In the house of God, used we to walk in the throng.
When together we sweeten counsel, We walk into the house of God in company.
15 Desolations on them! Let them go down into hades alive, For, wicked doings, are at home within them. (Sheol h7585)
Desolations [are] on them, They go down [to] Sheol—alive, For wickedness [is] in their dwelling, in their midst. (Sheol h7585)
16 I, unto God, will cry, —And, Yahweh, will save me.
I call to God, and YHWH saves me.
17 At evening and morning and high noon, have I been wont to lament and complain, And he hath heard my voice!
Evening, and morning, and noon, I meditate, and make a noise, and He hears my voice,
18 He hath completely redeemed my soul, out of the attack upon me, For, in multitudes, were they [in conflict] with me.
He has ransomed my soul in peace From him who is near to me, For with the multitude they were with me.
19 GOD will hear, Yea He will humble them who aforetime sat [enthroned]. (Selah) With whom are no changings, Neither have they revered God.
God hears and afflicts them, And He sits of old. (Selah) Because they have no changes, and do not fear God,
20 He hath thrust forth his hands, against them he was wont to salute, he hath violated his covenant;
He has sent forth his hands against his well-wishers, He has defiled his covenant.
21 Smoother than curds, were [the words of] his mouth, But, war, was [in] his heart, —Softer his words than oil, Yet, they, were drawn swords!
His mouth has been sweeter than honey, And his heart [is] war! His words have been softer than oil, And they [are] drawn [swords].
22 Cast upon Yahweh thy lot, and, he, will sustain thee: He will not suffer, to times age-abiding, the righteous one to be shaken.
Cast on YHWH that which He has given you, And He sustains you, He does not permit the moving of the righteous forever.
23 But, thou, O God, wilt bring them down to the pit of destruction, Men of bloodshed and deceit, shall not live out half their days; But, I, will trust in thee.
And You, O God, bring them down To a pit of destruction, Men of blood and deceit do not reach to half their days, And I trust in You!
