Psalms 55

1 To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.

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

2 Attend to me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;

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

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

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

4 My heart is greatly pained within me: and the terrors of death have fallen upon me.

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

5 Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.

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

6 And I said, O that I had wings like a dove! for then I would fly away, and be at rest.

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

7 Lo, then I would wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. (Selah)

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

8 I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.

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

9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

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

10 Day and night they go about her upon her walls: mischief also and sorrow are in her midst.

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

11 Wickedness is in her midst: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.

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

12 For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that magnified himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:

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

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

14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked to the house of God in company.

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

15 Let death seize upon them, and let them go down alive into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among 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 will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.

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

17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

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

18 He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.

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

19 God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. (Selah) Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.

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

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

My friend turned against me, betrayed his word.

21 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.

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

22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never allow the righteous to be moved.

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

23 But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.

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.