Psalms 55

1 For the music director. With stringed instruments. A psalm (maskil) of David. God, please hear my prayer; don't ignore my cry for help!

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

2 Please listen, and give me an answer. I'm terribly troubled by my problems! I'm frantic!

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

3 For my enemies are screaming at me; the wicked are intimidating me. They rain down suffering on me, angrily assaulting me in their hatred.

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.

4 My heart thumps in agony! Terrified, I feel I'm about to die!

My heart shudders within me, terrors of deaths press on me,

5 I'm in a panic, trembling with fear; feelings of horror wash over me.

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

6 I tell myself, If only God would give me wings like a dove so I could fly away and be at peace!

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

7 I would fly far away to escape, and stay in the wilderness. (Selah)

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

8 I would hurry to a place to hide, out of the wind, safe from the raging storm.

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

9 Confuse them, Lord! Muddle what they're saying, for I see violence and conflict in the city.

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

10 They patrol the city walls day and night, and wickedness and trouble are within the city.

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

11 The ones causing destruction are inside the city; frauds and cheats are always on the streets.

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

12 The problem is that it's not an enemy who mocks me—I could stand that. It's not someone who hates me who insults me—I could avoid them.

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:

13 No, it's you, a man just like me, my best friend who I know so well!

but it was you, my equal, my dear and familiar friend.

14 Our friendship was so close. We used to have great talks together as we walked with everyone to the house of God.

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

15 May death come quickly to them; may they go down into the grave alive, because evil finds its home in them. (Sheol h7585)

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

16 As for me, I cry out to God, and the Lord will save me.

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

17 I weep and groan morning, noon, and night, and he listens to me.

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

18 He rescues me, keeping me safe and sound from my attackers, because there are so many against me.

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

19 God who has ruled from the beginning will hear me and answer them. (Selah) For they refuse to change and don't respect God.

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

20 As for my best friend, he attacked his friends who had no quarrel with him; he broke the promises he had made to them.

My friend turned against me, betrayed his word.

21 What he says is as smooth as butter, but inside he plans war; his words are as soothing as oil, but they cut like sharp swords.

His mouth was smoother than butter, but war filled his heart. His words were softer than oil, but sharper than swords.

22 Throw your burdens onto the Lord and he will take care of you. He will never allow those who live right to fall.

Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you. He will never let the righteous be shaken.

23 But you, God, will bring down murderers and liars, throwing them into the pit of destruction before they have even lived half their lives. As for me, I will trust in you.

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.