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.

“To the chief musician on Neginoth, a Maskil of David.” Give ear, O God, to my prayer, and hide not thyself from my supplication.

2 Attend to me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;

Listen unto me, and answer me: I mourn in my grief, and moan;

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 the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked; for they cast wrong upon me, and in wrath they attack me.

4 My heart is severely pained within me: and the terrors of death have fallen upon me.

My heart is sorely pained within me, and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.

5 Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.

Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and shuddering hath covered me.

6 And I said, O that I had wings like a dove! [for then] I would fly away, and be at rest.

And I said, Oh that some one would give me wings like a dove! I would fly away and dwell [quietly].

7 Lo, [then] I would wander far off, [and] remain in the wilderness. (Selah)

Lo, I would flee far away, I would spend my night in the wilderness. (Selah)

8 I would hasten my escape from the windy storm [and] tempest.

I would prepare hastily a refuge for me from the sweeping wind [and] from storm.

9 Destroy, O LORD, [and] divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

Destroy, O Lord, divide their tongue; for I have seen violence and strife in the city;

10 Day and night they go about it upon its walls: mischief also and sorrow [are] in the midst of it.

Day and night do these encompass it upon her walls: and wrong and trouble are in her midst.

11 Wickedness [is] in the midst of it: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.

Mischief is in her midst: guile and deceit depart not from her 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 is not an enemy that reproached me; then I could bear it: not he that hateth me hath magnified himself 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 is thou, a man my equal, my guide, and my acquaintance;

14 We took sweet counsel together, [and] walked to the house of God in company.

So that we took sweet secret counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in tumultuous company.

15 Let death seize upon them, [and] let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness [is] in their dwellings, [and] among them. (Sheol h7585)

Let him dispense death over them; let them go down alive into the nether world; for evil is in their dwelling, in the midst of them. (Sheol h7585)

16 As for me, I will call upon God: and the LORD will save me.

I, however, will call on God: and the Lord will save me.

17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he will hear my voice.

At evening and morning and noon will I make my complaint and moan: and he heareth my voice.—

18 He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle [that was] against me: for there were many with me.

He delivereth my soul in peace from the battle against me; for in multitudes are they [contending] with me.

19 God will hear and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. (Selah) Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.

God will hear, and humble them—yea, he that sitteth enthroned from the oldest time Selah—those who dread no changes, and fear not God.

20 He hath put forth his hands against such as are at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.

He stretcheth out his hands against those at peace with him: he violateth his covenant.

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.

The creamy words of his mouth are smooth, yet there is war [in] his heart; his words are softer than oil, yet are they drawn swords.

22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he will sustain thee: he will never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he will sustain thee: he will never suffer the righteous to be moved.

23 But thou, O God, wilt 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 thou, O God, thou wilt bring them down into the pit of destruction: let not the men of blood and deceit live out half their days; but I will indeed trust in thee.