< Psalms 55 >
1 To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.
For the chief musician; on stringed instruments. A maschil of David. Give ear to my prayer, God; and do not hide yourself from my plea.
2 Attend to me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;
Pay attention to me and answer me; I have no rest in my troubles
3 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.
because of the voice of my enemies, because of the oppression of the wicked; for they bring trouble on me and persecute me in anger.
4 My heart is greatly pained within me: and the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
My heart trembles within me, and the terrors of death have fallen on me.
5 Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
Fearfulness and trembling have come on me, and horror has overwhelmed me.
6 And I said, O that I had wings like a dove! for then I would fly away, and be at rest.
I said, “Oh, if only I had wings like a dove! Then would I fly away and be at rest.
7 Lo, then I would wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. (Selah)
See, then I would wander far away; I would stay in the wilderness. (Selah)
8 I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.
I would hurry to a shelter from the stormy wind and tempest.”
9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
Devour them, Lord, confuse their language! For I have seen violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they go about her upon her walls: mischief also and sorrow are in her midst.
Day and night they go about on its walls; iniquity and mischief are in the middle of it.
11 Wickedness is in her midst: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
Wickedness is in the middle of it; oppression and deceit do not leave its streets.
12 For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that magnified himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:
For it was not an enemy who rebuked me, then I could have borne it; neither was it he who hated me who raised himself up against me, then I would have hidden myself from him.
13 But it was thou, a man my equal, my guide, and my acquaintance.
But it was you, a man equal to myself, my companion and my close friend.
14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked to the house of God in company.
We had sweet fellowship together; we walked in the house of God with the throng.
15 Let death seize upon them, and let them go down alive into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them. (Sheol )
Let death come suddenly on them; let them go down alive to Sheol, for wickedness is where they live, right among them. (Sheol )
16 As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.
As for me, I will call on God, and Yahweh will save me.
17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
In the evening, morning and at noonday I complain and moan; he will hear my voice.
18 He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.
He will safely rescue my life from the battle that was against me, for those who fought against me were many.
19 God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. (Selah) Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.
God, the one who rules from eternity, will hear them and humiliate them. (Selah) They never change, and they do not fear God.
20 He hath put forth his hands against such as are at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.
My friend has raised his hands against those who were at peace with him; he has not respected the covenant that he had.
21 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.
His mouth was smooth as butter, but his heart was hostile; his words were softer than oil, yet they were actually drawn swords.
22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never allow the righteous to be moved.
Place your burdens on Yahweh, and he will sustain you; he will never allow a righteous person to totter.
23 But thou, O God, 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.
But you, God, will bring the wicked down into the pit of destruction; bloodthirsty and deceitful men will not live even half as long as others, but I will trust in you.