Psalms 55
1 God, listen to my prayer, and do not turn away from me while I am pleading with you.
For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. Maschil of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God; and 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 answer me: I am restless in my complaint, and moan;
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.
Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked; for they cast iniquity upon me, and in anger they persecute me.
4 I am terrified, and I am very much afraid that I will die.
My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
5 I am very fearful and I tremble/shake, and I am completely terrified.
Fearfulness and trembling are come upon 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.
And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! then would I fly away, and be at rest.
7 I would fly far away and live in the desert.
Lo, then would I wander far off, I would lodge in the wilderness. (Selah)
8 I would quickly find a shelter from [my enemies] [who are like] [MET] a strong wind and rainstorm.”
I would haste me to a shelter from the stormy 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].
Destroy, O Lord, [and] divide their tongue: for I have seen 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 they go about upon the walls thereof: iniquity also and mischief are in the midst of it.
11 They destroy [things] everywhere. They oppress and defraud [people] in the (marketplaces/public squares).
Wickedness is in the midst thereof: oppression and guile depart not from her 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.
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 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 mine equal, my companion, and my familiar friend.
14 We previously had many good talks together; we walked around together in God’s temple.
We took sweet counsel together, we walked in the house of God with the throng.
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)
Let death come suddenly upon them, let them go down alive into the pit: for wickedness is in their dwelling, 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 the LORD shall 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.
Evening, and morning, and at noonday, will I complain, and moan: and he shall 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 hath redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for they were many [that strove] with 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 shall hear, and answer them, even he that abideth of old, (Selah) [the men] who have no changes, and who fear not God.
20 My companion, [whom I mentioned previously], betrayed his friends and broke the agreement that he made with them.
He hath put forth his hands against such as were at peace with him: he hath profaned his covenant.
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].
His mouth was smooth as butter, but his heart was war: his words were softer 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 shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
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.
But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.
