Psalms 55

1 TO THE OVERSEER. WITH STRINGED INSTRUMENTS. AN INSTRUCTION OF DAVID. Give ear, O God, [to] my prayer, And do not hide from 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 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 to me, And horror covers me.

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

6 And I say, “Who gives 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 Behold, I move far off, I lodge in a wilderness. (Selah)

Look, then I would wander far off. I would lodge in the wilderness." (Selah)

8 I hurry 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 around 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 do not depart from its street.

Destructive forces are within her. Threats and lies do not depart from her streets.

12 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.

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

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

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

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

15 Desolations [are] on 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 in their dwelling, in the midst of them. (Sheol h7585)

16 I call to God, and YHWH saves me.

As for me, I will call on God. The LORD will save me.

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

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

18 He has ransomed my soul in peace 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 hears and afflicts them, And He sits of old. (Selah) Because they have no changes, and do not fear God,

God, who is enthroned forever, will hear, and humble them. (Selah) They never change, who do not fear God.

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

He has stretched out his hand against those who were at peace with him. He has violated his covenant.

21 His mouth has been sweeter than honey, And his heart [is] war! His words have been softer 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 YHWH that which He has given you, And He sustains you, He does not permit the moving of the righteous forever.

Throw your burden upon the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will never allow the righteous to be upended.

23 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!

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.