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 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 Attend to me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;
Attend unto me, and hear me! I wander about mourning and wailing,
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.
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 My heart is severely pained within me: and the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
My heart trembleth in my bosom, And the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
5 Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
Fear and trembling have seized me, And horror hath overwhelmed me.
6 And I said, O that I had wings like a dove! [for then] I would fly away, and be at rest.
Then I say, O that I had wings like a dove! For then would I fly away, and be at rest.
7 Lo, [then] I would wander far off, [and] remain in the wilderness. (Selah)
Behold, I would wander far away, And take up my abode in a wilderness. (Pause)
8 I would hasten my escape from the windy storm [and] tempest.
I would hasten away to a shelter From the rushing wind and tempest.
9 Destroy, O LORD, [and] divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
Confound, O Lord! divide their counsels! For I behold 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 go about its walls; In the midst of it are iniquity and mischief.
11 Wickedness [is] in the midst of it: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
Wickedness is in the midst of it; Oppression and fraud depart not from 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:
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 was] thou, a man my equal, my guide, and my acquaintance.
But it was thou, a man my equal, My friend, and my acquaintance.
14 We took sweet counsel together, [and] walked to the house of God in company.
We held sweet converse together, And walked to the house of God in 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)
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 As for me, I will call upon God: and the LORD will save me.
As for me, I will call upon God, And Jehovah will save me.
17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he will hear my voice.
At evening, at morn, and at noon I mourn and sigh, And 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 deliver me in peace from my conflict; For many have risen up against 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 me, and bring them down, —He that hath been judge of old. (Pause) Because they have no changes, Therefore they fear not God.
20 He hath put forth his hands against such as are at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.
They lift up their hands against their friend, And break their covenant with him.
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.
Their speech was softer than butter, But war was in their heart; Their words were smoother than oil, Yet were 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 fall!”
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.
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!
