Psalms 55
1 God, listen to my prayer, and do not turn away from me while I am pleading with you.
“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!
2 Listen to me, and answer me, because I am overwhelmed by [all] my troubles.
Attend unto me, and hear me! I wander about mourning and wailing,
3 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.
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.
4 I am terrified, and I am very much afraid that I will die.
My heart trembleth in my bosom, And the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
5 I am very fearful and I tremble/shake, and I am completely terrified.
Fear and trembling have seized me, And horror hath overwhelmed me.
6 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.
Then I say, O that I had wings like a dove! For then would I fly away, and be at rest.
7 I would fly far away and live in the desert.
Behold, I would wander far away, And take up my abode in a wilderness. (Pause)
8 I would quickly find a shelter from [my enemies] [who are like] [MET] a strong wind and rainstorm.”
I would hasten away to a shelter From the rushing wind and tempest.
9 Lord, confuse my enemies, and cause their plans to fail, because I see them acting violently and causing strife in the city [of Jerusalem].
Confound, O Lord! divide their counsels! For I behold violence and strife in the city.
10 During [each] day and night they march around on top of its walls, committing crimes and causing trouble.
Day and night do these go about its walls; In the midst of it are iniquity and mischief.
11 They destroy [things] everywhere. They oppress and defraud [people] in the (marketplaces/public squares).
Wickedness is in the midst of it; Oppression and fraud depart not from its streets.
12 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.
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.
13 But it is someone who is just like me, my companion, someone who was my friend [who is doing this to me].
But it was thou, a man my equal, My friend, and my acquaintance.
14 We previously had many good talks together; we walked around together in God’s temple.
We held sweet converse together, And walked to the house of God in company.
15 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)
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)
16 But I [will] ask Yahweh, [my] God, to help me, and he will save me.
As for me, I will call upon God, And Jehovah will save me.
17 [Each] morning and [each] noontime and [each] evening I tell him what I am concerned about, and I moan, and he hears my voice.
At evening, at morn, and at noon I mourn and sigh, And he will hear my voice.
18 I have [very] many enemies, but he will rescue me and bring me back safely from the battles that I fight.
He will deliver me in peace from my conflict; For many have risen up against me.
19 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.
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.
20 My companion, [whom I mentioned previously], betrayed his friends and broke the agreement that he made with them.
They lift up their hands against their friend, And break their covenant with him.
21 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].
Their speech was softer than butter, But war was in their heart; Their words were smoother than oil, Yet were they drawn swords.
22 Put your troubles in Yahweh’s hands, and he will take care of you; he will never allow righteous [people] to experience disasters.
“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he will sustain thee; He will never suffer the righteous to fall!”
23 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.
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!
