Psalms 55

1 To the Overseer with stringed instruments. — An instruction, by David. Give ear, O God, [to] my prayer, And hide not 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 mourn in my (meditation) and make a noise,

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

3 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.

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

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

5 Fear and trembling come in to me, And horror doth cover me.

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

6 And I say, 'Who doth give to me a pinion as a dove? I fly away and rest,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

12 For an enemy reproacheth me not, or I bear [it], He who is hating me Hath not magnified himself against me, Or I hide 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 thou, a man — as mine equal, My familiar friend, and mine acquaintance.

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

14 When together we sweeten counsel, Into the house of God we walk in company.

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

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

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

16 I — to God I call, and Jehovah saveth me.

I call to God, and YHWH saves me.

17 Evening, and morning, and noon, I meditate, and make a noise, and He heareth my voice,

Evening, and morning, and noon, I meditate, and make a noise, and He hears my voice,

18 He hath ransomed in peace my soul From him who is near to me, For with the multitude they were with 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 doth hear and afflict them, And He sitteth of old. (Selah) Because they have no changes, and fear not God,

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

20 He hath sent forth his hands against his well-wishers, He hath polluted his covenant.

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

21 Sweeter than honey hath been his mouth, And his heart [is] war! Softer have been his words than oil, And they [are] 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 on Jehovah that which He hath given thee, And He doth sustain thee, He doth not suffer for ever the moving of the righteous.

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

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

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!