< Psalms 55 >
1 God, listen to my prayer, and do not turn away from me while I am pleading with you.
2 Listen to me, and answer me, because I am overwhelmed by [all] my troubles.
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.
4 I am terrified, and I am very much afraid that I will die.
5 I am very fearful and I tremble/shake, and I am completely terrified.
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.
7 I would fly far away and live in the desert.
8 I would quickly find a shelter from [my enemies] [who are like] [MET] a strong wind and rainstorm.”
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].
10 During [each] day and night they march around on top of its walls, committing crimes and causing trouble.
11 They destroy [things] everywhere. They oppress and defraud [people] in the (marketplaces/public squares).
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.
13 But it is someone who is just like me, my companion, someone who was my friend [who is doing this to me].
14 We previously had many good talks together; we walked around together in God’s temple.
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 )
16 But I [will] ask Yahweh, [my] God, to help me, and he 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.
18 I have [very] many enemies, but he will rescue me and bring me back safely from the battles that I fight.
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.
20 My companion, [whom I mentioned previously], betrayed his friends and broke the agreement that he made with 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].
22 Put your troubles in Yahweh’s hands, and he will take care of you; he will never allow righteous [people] to experience disasters.
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.
