Psalms 55

1 To the chief Musician. On stringed instruments: an instruction. Of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.

“For the leader of the music. To be sung on stringed instruments. A psalm of David.” Give ear to my prayer, O God! Hide not thyself from my supplication!

2 Attend unto me, and answer me: I wander about in my plaint, and I moan aloud,

Attend unto me, and hear me! I wander about mourning and wailing,

3 Because of the voice of the enemy; because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in anger they persecute me.

On account of the clamors of the enemy, On account of the violence of the wicked. For they bring evil upon me, And in wrath set themselves against me.

4 My heart is writhing within me, and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.

My heart trembleth in my bosom, And the terrors of death have fallen upon me.

5 Fear and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.

Fear and trembling have seized me, And horror hath overwhelmed me.

6 And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away, and be at rest;

Then I say, O that I had wings like a dove! For then would I fly away, and be at rest.

7 Behold, I would flee afar off, I would lodge in the wilderness; (Selah)

Behold, I would wander far away, And take up my abode in a wilderness. (Pause)

8 I would hasten my escape from the stormy wind, from the tempest.

I would hasten away to a shelter From the rushing wind and tempest.

9 Swallow [them] up, Lord; divide their tongue: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

Confound, O Lord! divide their counsels! For I behold violence and strife in the city.

10 Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof; and iniquity and mischief are in the midst of it.

Day and night do these go about its walls; In the midst of it are iniquity and mischief.

11 Perversities are in the midst thereof; and oppression and deceit depart not from its streets.

Wickedness is in the midst of it; Oppression and fraud depart not from its streets.

12 For it is not an enemy that hath reproached me — then could I have borne it; neither is it he that hateth me that hath magnified [himself] against me — then would I have hidden myself from him;

It was not an enemy that reviled me, Then I could have borne it; Nor one that hated me, who rose up against me; From him I could have hid myself.

13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, mine intimate, my familiar friend. ...

But it was thou, a man my equal, My friend, and my acquaintance.

14 We who held sweet intercourse together. To the house of God we walked amid the throng.

We held sweet converse together, And walked to the house of God in company.

15 Let death seize upon them, let them go down alive into Sheol. For wickedness is in their dwellings, in their midst. (Sheol h7585)

May sudden death seize upon them! May they go down to the underworld alive! For wickedness is in their dwellings, in the midst of them. (Sheol h7585)

16 As for me, unto God will I call; and Jehovah will save me.

As for me, I will call upon God, And Jehovah will save me.

17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray and moan aloud; and he will hear my voice.

At evening, at morn, and at noon I mourn and sigh, And he will hear my voice.

18 He hath redeemed my soul in peace from the battle against me: for there were many about me.

He will deliver me in peace from my conflict; For many have risen up against me.

19 God will hear, and afflict them: he that is seated of old, (Selah) ...because there is no change in them, and they fear not God.

God will hear me, and bring them down, —He that hath been judge of old. (Pause) Because they have no changes, Therefore they fear not God.

20 He hath put forth his hands against such as are at peace with him; he hath profaned his covenant.

They lift up their hands against their friend, And break their covenant with him.

21 Smooth were the milky [words] of his mouth, but his heart was war; his words were softer than oil, yet are they drawn swords.

Their speech was softer than butter, But war was in their heart; Their words were smoother than oil, Yet were they drawn swords.

22 Cast thy burden upon Jehovah, and he will sustain thee: he will never suffer the righteous to be moved.

“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he will sustain thee; He will never suffer the righteous to fall!”

23 And thou, O God, wilt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days. But as for me, I will confide in thee.

Yea, thou, O God! wilt bring them down into the lowest pit! Bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in thee!