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 OVERSEER. WITH STRINGED INSTRUMENTS. AN INSTRUCTION OF DAVID. Give ear, O God, [to] my prayer, And do not hide from my supplication.

2 Attend to me, and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and moan

Attend to me, and answer me, I mourn in my (meditation) and make a noise,

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 an enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked, For they cause sorrow to move against me, And in anger they hate me.

4 My heart is severely pained within me. The terrors of death have fallen on me.

My heart is pained within me, And terrors of death have fallen on me.

5 Fearfulness and trembling have come on me. Horror has overwhelmed me.

Fear and trembling come to me, And horror covers me.

6 I said, “Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then I would fly away, and be at rest.

And I say, “Who gives to me a pinion as a dove?” I fly away and rest,

7 Behold, then I would wander far off. I would lodge in the wilderness.” (Selah)

Behold, I move far off, I lodge in a wilderness. (Selah)

8 “I would hurry to a shelter from the stormy wind and storm.”

I hurry escape for myself, From a rushing wind, from a whirlwind.

9 Confuse them, Lord, and confound their language, for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

Swallow up, O Lord, divide their tongue, For I saw violence and strife in a city.

10 Day and night they prowl around on its walls. Malice and abuse are also within her.

By day and by night they go around it, on its walls. Both iniquity and perverseness [are] in its midst,

11 Destructive forces are within her. Threats and lies don’t depart from her streets.

Mischiefs [are] in its midst. Fraud and deceit do not depart from its street.

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 an enemy does not reproach me, or I bear [it], He who is hating me Has not magnified himself against me, Or I hide from him.

13 But it was you, a man like me, my companion, and my familiar friend.

But you, a man—as my equal, My familiar friend, and my acquaintance.

14 We took sweet fellowship together. We walked in God’s house with company.

When together we sweeten counsel, We walk into the house of God in 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)

Desolations [are] on them, They go down [to] Sheol—alive, For wickedness [is] in their dwelling, in their midst. (Sheol h7585)

16 As for me, I will call on God. Yahweh will save me.

I call to God, and YHWH saves me.

17 Evening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress. He will hear my voice.

Evening, and morning, and noon, I meditate, and make a noise, and He hears 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 has ransomed my soul in peace From him who is near to me, For with the multitude they were with me.

19 God, who is enthroned forever, will hear and answer them. (Selah) They never change and don’t fear God.

God hears and afflicts them, And He sits of old. (Selah) Because they have no changes, and do not fear God,

20 He raises his hands against his friends. He has violated his covenant.

He has sent forth his hands against his well-wishers, He has defiled 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.

His mouth has been sweeter than honey, And his heart [is] war! His words have been softer than oil, And they [are] drawn [swords].

22 Cast your burden on Yahweh and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved.

Cast on YHWH that which He has given you, And He sustains you, He does not permit the moving of the righteous forever.

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.

And You, O God, bring them down To a pit of destruction, Men of blood and deceit do not reach to half their days, And I trust in You!