Psalms 55

1 For the leader. With stringed instruments. A maskil of David. Listen, God, to my prayer. Don’t hide yourself from my pleading.

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 Hear me, and answer; for bitter is my lament.

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

3 I am wild with the noise of the foe, with the clamour of the ungodly; for they hurl disaster upon me, and attack me with fury.

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 shudders within me, terrors of deaths press on me,

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

5 fear and trembling attack me, and horror wraps me round.

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

6 O for the wings of a dove: I would fly away and rest.

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

7 I would wander far away, find refuge in the wilderness. (Selah)

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

8 I would find myself a shelter from raging wind and tempest.

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

9 Confuse them, Lord, upset their plans; for I see violence and strife in the city.

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

10 By day and by night they make their rounds on the city walls, while within is crime and trouble,

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

11 within is ruin. Her market-place is never free of deceit and tyranny.

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

12 The taunts were not those of a foe that I could have borne; the disdain was not that of an enemy I could have shunned them:

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, my equal, my dear and familiar friend.

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

14 We used to be so close, together we walked in God’s house with the crowd.

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

15 May death suddenly take them, may they go down to Sheol alive, for evil lives in their homes and their hearts. (Sheol h7585)

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

16 But I will call on God, the Lord will save me.

I call to God, and YHWH saves me.

17 Evening and morning and noon I lament and moan. He will hear my voice;

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

18 though I am attacked by many he will rescue me, unharmed from the war.

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 sits on his ancient throne will hear and will humble them, for they never change, they never fear God. (Selah)

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

20 My friend turned against me, betrayed his word.

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

21 His mouth was smoother than butter, but war filled his heart. His words were softer than oil, but sharper than 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 the Lord, and he will sustain you. He will never let the righteous be shaken.

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 hurl them down to the deepest pit. Bloody and treacherous people will not live out half their days; but I will trust 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!