Psalms 55
1 God, listen to my prayer, and do not turn away from me while I am pleading with you.
For the music director. With stringed instruments. A psalm (maskil) of David. God, please hear my prayer; don't ignore my cry for help!
2 Listen to me, and answer me, because I am overwhelmed by [all] my troubles.
Please listen, and give me an answer. I'm terribly troubled by my problems! I'm frantic!
3 My enemies cause me to be terrified; wicked people oppress me. They cause me to have great troubles; they are angry with me, and they hate me.
For my enemies are screaming at me; the wicked are intimidating me. They rain down suffering on me, angrily assaulting me in their hatred.
4 I am terrified, and I am very much afraid that I will die.
My heart thumps in agony! Terrified, I feel I'm about to die!
5 I am very fearful and I tremble/shake, and I am completely terrified.
I'm in a panic, trembling with fear; feelings of horror wash over me.
6 I said, “I wish that I had wings like a dove! If I had wings, I would fly away and find a place to rest.
I tell myself, If only God would give me wings like a dove so I could fly away and be at peace!
7 I would fly far away and live in the desert.
I would fly far away to escape, and stay in the wilderness. (Selah)
8 I would quickly find a shelter from [my enemies] [who are like] [MET] a strong wind and rainstorm.”
I would hurry to a place to hide, out of the wind, safe from the raging storm.
9 Lord, confuse my enemies, and cause their plans to fail, because I see them acting violently and causing strife in the city [of Jerusalem].
Confuse them, Lord! Muddle what they're saying, for I see violence and conflict in the city.
10 During [each] day and night they march around on top of its walls, committing crimes and causing trouble.
They patrol the city walls day and night, and wickedness and trouble are within the city.
11 They destroy [things] everywhere. They oppress and defraud [people] in the (marketplaces/public squares).
The ones causing destruction are inside the city; frauds and cheats are always on the streets.
12 If it were an enemy who was making fun of me, I could endure it. If it were someone who hates me, who despises me, I could hide from him.
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.
13 But it is someone who is just like me, my companion, someone who was my friend [who is doing this to me].
No, it's you, a man just like me, my best friend who I know so well!
14 We previously had many good talks together; we walked around together in God’s temple.
Our friendship was so close. We used to have great talks together as we walked with everyone to the house of God.
15 I desire/hope that my enemies will die suddenly; while they are still young, cause them to go down to the place where the dead people are. They they think evil things. (Sheol h7585)
May death come quickly to them; may they go down into the grave alive, because evil finds its home in them. (Sheol h7585)
16 But I [will] ask Yahweh, [my] God, to help me, and he will save me.
As for me, I cry out to God, and the Lord will save me.
17 [Each] morning and [each] noontime and [each] evening I tell him what I am concerned about, and I moan, and he hears my voice.
I weep and groan morning, noon, and night, and he listens to me.
18 I have [very] many enemies, but he will rescue me and bring me back safely from the battles that I fight.
He rescues me, keeping me safe and sound from my attackers, because there are so many against me.
19 God is the one who has ruled everything forever, and he will listen to me. He will cause my enemies to be [defeated and] disgraced, because they do not change their evil behavior and they do not revere God.
God who has ruled from the beginning will hear me and answer them. (Selah) For they refuse to change and don't respect God.
20 My companion, [whom I mentioned previously], betrayed his friends and broke the agreement that he made with them.
As for my best friend, he attacked his friends who had no quarrel with him; he broke the promises he had made to them.
21 What he said was [easy to listen to, like] butter [is easy to swallow] [MET], but in his inner being he hated people; his words were [soothing] like [olive] oil, [but they hurt people like] sharp swords do [MET].
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.
22 Put your troubles in Yahweh’s hands, and he will take care of you; he will never allow righteous [people] to experience disasters.
Throw your burdens onto the Lord and he will take care of you. He will never allow those who live right to fall.
23 God, you will cause murderers [MTY] and liars to die before they have lived half as long as they expect to live; but [as for me], I will trust in you.
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.
