Psalms 55
1 Unto the end. In verses, the understanding of David. Listen to my prayer, O God, and despise not my supplication.
[For the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A contemplation by David.] Listen to my prayer, God. Do not hide yourself from my petition.
2 Be attentive to me, and heed me. I have been grieved in my training, and I have been disturbed
Attend to me, and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and moan,
3 at the voice of the adversary and at the tribulation of the sinner. For they have diverted iniquities toward me, and they have been harassing me with rage.
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 has become disturbed within me, and the dread of death has fallen over me.
My heart is severely pained within me. The terrors of death have fallen on me.
5 Fear and trembling have overwhelmed me, and darkness has buried me.
Fearfulness and trembling have come on me. Horror has overwhelmed me.
6 And I said, “Who will give me wings like the dove, so that I may fly away and take rest?”
I said, "Oh that I had wings like a dove. Then I would fly away, and be at rest.
7 Behold, I have fled far away, and I linger in solitude.
Look, then I would wander far off. I would lodge in the wilderness." (Selah)
8 I waited for him who saved me from a weak-minded spirit and from a tempest.
"I would hurry to a shelter from the stormy wind and storm."
9 Cast them down, O Lord, and divide their tongues. For I have seen iniquity and contradiction in the city.
Confuse them, YHWH, and confound their language, for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night, iniquity will surround it upon its walls, and hardship is in its midst,
Day and night they prowl around on its walls. Malice and abuse are also within her.
11 with injustice. And usury and deceit have not fallen away from its streets.
Destructive forces are within her. Threats and lies do not depart from her streets.
12 For if my enemy had spoken evil about me, certainly, I would have sustained it. And if he who hated me had been speaking great things against me, I would perhaps have hidden myself 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 hid myself from him.
13 Truly, you are a man of one mind: my leader and my acquaintance,
But it was you, a man like me, my companion, and my familiar friend.
14 who took sweet food together with me. In the house of God, we walked side-by-side.
We took sweet fellowship together. We walked in God's house with company.
15 Let death come upon them, and let them descend alive into Hellfire. For there is wickedness in their dwellings, in their midst. (Sheol h7585)
Let death come suddenly on them. Let them go down alive into Sheol. For wickedness is in their dwelling, in the midst of them. (Sheol h7585)
16 But I have cried out to God, and the Lord will save me.
As for me, I will call on God. YHWH will save me.
17 Evening and morning and midday, I will discourse and announce, and he will heed my voice.
Evening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress. He will hear my voice.
18 He will redeem my soul in peace from those who draw near to me. For, among the many, 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 will hear, and He who is before time will humble them. For there is no change with them, and they have not feared God.
God, who is enthroned forever, will hear, and humble them. (Selah) They never change, who do not fear God.
20 He has stretched forth his hand in retribution. They have contaminated his covenant.
He has stretched out his hand against those who were at peace with him. He has violated his covenant.
21 They were divided by the wrath of his countenance, and his heart has drawn near. His words are smoother than oil, and they are arrows.
His mouth was smooth as butter, but his heart was war. His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.
22 Cast your cares upon the Lord, and he will nurture you. He will not allow the just to be tossed about forever.
Throw your burden upon YHWH, and he will take care of you. He will never allow the righteous to be upended.
23 Truly, O God, you will lead them away into the well of death. Bloody and deceitful men will not divide their days in half. But I will hope in you, O Lord.
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.
