Psalms 55
1 For the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A contemplation by David. Listen to my prayer, God. Don’t hide yourself 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 answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and moan
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 bring suffering on me. In anger they hold a grudge against 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. The terrors of death have fallen on me.
My heart is sorely pained within me, and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
5 Fearfulness and trembling have come on me. Horror has overwhelmed me.
Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and shuddering hath covered me.
6 I said, “Oh that I had wings like a dove! 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 Behold, then I would wander far off. I would lodge in the wilderness.” (Selah)
Lo, I would flee far away, I would spend my night in the wilderness. (Selah)
8 “I would hurry to a shelter from the stormy wind and storm.”
I would prepare hastily a refuge for me from the sweeping wind [and] from storm.
9 Confuse them, Lord, and confound their language, 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 prowl around on its walls. Malice and abuse are also within her.
Day and night do these encompass it upon her walls: and wrong and trouble are in her midst.
11 Destructive forces are within her. Threats and lies don’t depart from her streets.
Mischief is in her midst: guile and deceit depart not from her streets.
12 For it was not an enemy who insulted me, then I could have endured it. Neither was it he who hated me who raised himself up against me, then I would have hidden 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 you, a man like me, my companion, and my familiar friend.
But it is thou, a man my equal, my guide, and my acquaintance;
14 We took sweet fellowship together. We walked in God’s house with company.
So that we took sweet secret counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in tumultuous company.
15 Let death come suddenly on them. Let them go down alive into Sheol. For wickedness is among them, in their dwelling. (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 on God. Yahweh will save me.
I, however, will call on God: and the Lord will save me.
17 Evening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress. 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 has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, although there are many who oppose me.
He delivereth my soul in peace from the battle against me; for in multitudes are they [contending] with me.
19 God, who is enthroned forever, will hear and answer them. (Selah) They never change and don’t fear 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 raises his hands against his friends. He has violated his covenant.
He stretcheth out his hands against those at peace with him: he violateth his covenant.
21 His mouth was smooth as butter, but his heart was war. His words were softer than oil, yet they were 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 your burden on Yahweh and he will sustain you. He will never allow 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 you, God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction. Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days, but I will trust in you.
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.
