Psalms 55
1 For the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A contemplation by David. Listen to my prayer, God. Don’t hide yourself from my supplication.
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.
2 Attend to me, and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and moan
Attend to me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;
3 because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they bring suffering on me. In anger they hold a grudge against me.
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.
4 My heart is severely pained within me. The terrors of death have fallen on me.
My heart is severely pained within me: and the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
5 Fearfulness and trembling have come on me. Horror has overwhelmed me.
Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
6 I said, “Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then I would fly away, and be at rest.
And I said, O that I had wings like a dove! [for then] I would fly away, and be at rest.
7 Behold, then I would wander far off. I would lodge in the wilderness.” (Selah)
Lo, [then] I would wander far off, [and] remain in the wilderness. (Selah)
8 “I would hurry to a shelter from the stormy wind and storm.”
I would hasten my escape from the windy storm [and] tempest.
9 Confuse them, Lord, and confound their language, for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
Destroy, O LORD, [and] divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they prowl around on its walls. Malice and abuse are also within her.
Day and night they go about it upon its walls: mischief also and sorrow [are] in the midst of it.
11 Destructive forces are within her. Threats and lies don’t depart from her streets.
Wickedness [is] in the midst of it: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
12 For it was not an enemy who insulted me, then I could have endured it. Neither was it he who hated me who raised himself up against me, then I would have hidden myself from him.
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:
13 But it was you, a man like me, my companion, and my familiar friend.
But [it was] thou, a man my equal, my guide, and my acquaintance.
14 We took sweet fellowship together. We walked in God’s house with company.
We took sweet counsel together, [and] walked to the house of God in company.
15 Let death come suddenly on them. Let them go down alive into Sheol. For wickedness is among them, in their dwelling. (Sheol h7585)
Let death seize upon them, [and] let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness [is] in their dwellings, [and] among them. (Sheol h7585)
16 As for me, I will call on God. Yahweh will save me.
As for me, I will call upon God: and the LORD will save me.
17 Evening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress. He will hear my voice.
Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he will hear my voice.
18 He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, although there are many who oppose me.
He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle [that was] against me: for there were many with me.
19 God, who is enthroned forever, will hear and answer them. (Selah) They never change and don’t fear God.
God will hear and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. (Selah) Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.
20 He raises his hands against his friends. He has violated his covenant.
He hath put forth his hands against such as are at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.
21 His mouth was smooth as butter, but his heart was war. His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.
[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.
22 Cast your burden on Yahweh and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved.
Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he will sustain thee: he will never suffer the righteous to be moved.
23 But you, God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction. Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days, but I will trust in you.
But thou, O God, wilt 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.
