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.
For the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A contemplation by David. Listen to my prayer, God. Don’t hide yourself 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 am restless in my complaint, and moan
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 the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they bring suffering on me. In anger they hold a grudge against me.
4 My heart is pained within me, And terrors of death have fallen on me.
My heart is severely pained within me. The terrors of death have fallen on me.
5 Fear and trembling come in to me, And horror doth cover me.
Fearfulness and trembling have come on me. Horror has overwhelmed me.
6 And I say, 'Who doth give to me a pinion as a dove? I fly away and rest,
I said, “Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then I would fly away, and be at rest.
7 Lo, I move far off, I lodge in a wilderness. (Selah)
Behold, then I would wander far off. I would lodge in the wilderness.” (Selah)
8 I hasten escape for myself, From a rushing wind, from a whirlwind.
“I would hurry to a shelter from the stormy wind and storm.”
9 Swallow up, O Lord, divide their tongue, For I saw violence and strife in a city.
Confuse them, Lord, and confound their language, for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
10 By day and by night they go round it, on its walls. Both iniquity and perverseness [are] in its midst,
Day and night they prowl around on its walls. Malice and abuse are also within her.
11 Mischiefs [are] in its midst. Fraud and deceit depart not from its street.
Destructive forces are within her. Threats and lies don’t depart from her streets.
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 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.
13 But thou, a man — as mine equal, My familiar friend, and mine acquaintance.
But it was you, a man like me, my companion, and my familiar friend.
14 When together we sweeten counsel, Into the house of God we walk in company.
We took sweet fellowship together. We walked in God’s house with company.
15 Desolations [are] upon them, They go down [to] Sheol — alive, For wickedness [is] in their dwelling, in their midst. (Sheol h7585)
Let death come suddenly on them. Let them go down alive into Sheol. For wickedness is among them, in their dwelling. (Sheol h7585)
16 I — to God I call, and Jehovah saveth me.
As for me, I will call on God. Yahweh will save me.
17 Evening, and morning, and noon, I meditate, and make a noise, and He heareth my voice,
Evening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress. He will hear 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 redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, although there are many who oppose me.
19 God doth hear and afflict them, And He sitteth of old. (Selah) Because they have no changes, and fear not God,
God, who is enthroned forever, will hear and answer them. (Selah) They never change and don’t fear God.
20 He hath sent forth his hands against his well-wishers, He hath polluted his covenant.
He raises his hands against his friends. He has violated 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 was smooth as butter, but his heart was war. His words were softer than oil, yet they were 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 your burden on Yahweh and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved.
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!
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.
