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:
God, listen to my prayer, and do not turn away from me while I am pleading with you.
2 Attend unto me, and answer me, I may ramble in my complaining, And be driven to and fro—
Listen to me, and answer me, because I am overwhelmed by [all] my troubles.
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.
My enemies cause me to be terrified; wicked people oppress me. They cause me to have great troubles; they are angry with me, and they hate me.
4 My heart, would writhe within me, And, the terrors of Death, have fallen upon me:
I am terrified, and I am very much afraid that I will die.
5 Fear and trembling, would enter me, And there would have overwhelmed me—a horror!
I am very fearful and I tremble/shake, and I am completely terrified.
6 Then I said—Oh that there were given me a pinion, like a dove, I would fly away and be at rest:
I said, “I wish that I had wings like a dove! If I had wings, I would fly away and find a place to rest.
7 Lo! I would take a distant flight, I would tarry in the wilderness. (Selah)
I would fly far away and live in the desert.
8 I would hasten mine escape, From rushing wind, from storm.
I would quickly find a shelter from [my enemies] [who are like] [MET] a strong wind and rainstorm.”
9 Confuse, O My Lord, divide their speech, For I have seen violence and contention in the city;
Lord, confuse my enemies, and cause their plans to fail, because I see them acting violently and causing strife in the city [of Jerusalem].
10 Day and night, they go round her, upon her walls, And, trouble and misery, are in her midst;
During [each] day and night they march around on top of its walls, committing crimes and causing trouble.
11 Engulfing ruin, is in her midst, And there depart not from her broadway, oppression and deceit.
They destroy [things] everywhere. They oppress and defraud [people] in the (marketplaces/public squares).
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;
If it were an enemy who was making fun of me, I could endure it. If it were someone who hates me, who despises me, I could hide from him.
13 But it is, thou, a man esteemed as mine equal, mine associate, and mine acquaintance;
But it is someone who is just like me, my companion, someone who was my friend [who is doing this to me].
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.
We previously had many good talks together; we walked around together in God’s temple.
15 Desolations on them! Let them go down into hades alive, For, wicked doings, are at home within them. (Sheol h7585)
I desire/hope that my enemies will die suddenly; while they are still young, cause them to go down to the place where the dead people are. They they think evil things. (Sheol h7585)
16 I, unto God, will cry, —And, Yahweh, will save me.
But I [will] ask Yahweh, [my] God, to help me, and he will save me.
17 At evening and morning and high noon, have I been wont to lament and complain, And he hath heard my voice!
[Each] morning and [each] noontime and [each] evening I tell him what I am concerned about, and I moan, 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.
I have [very] many enemies, but he will rescue me and bring me back safely from the battles that I fight.
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 is the one who has ruled everything forever, and he will listen to me. He will cause my enemies to be [defeated and] disgraced, because they do not change their evil behavior and they do not revere God.
20 He hath thrust forth his hands, against them he was wont to salute, he hath violated his covenant;
My companion, [whom I mentioned previously], betrayed his friends and broke the agreement that he made with them.
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!
What he said was [easy to listen to, like] butter [is easy to swallow] [MET], but in his inner being he hated people; his words were [soothing] like [olive] oil, [but they hurt people like] sharp swords do [MET].
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.
Put your troubles in Yahweh’s hands, and he will take care of you; he will never allow righteous [people] to experience disasters.
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.
God, you will cause murderers [MTY] and liars to die before they have lived half as long as they expect to live; but [as for me], I will trust in you.
