Psalm 55:1-23
To the director; to be accompanied with stringed instruments. Masʹkil.* Of David.
55 Listen to my prayer, O God,+And do not ignore my request for mercy.*+
2 Do pay attention to me and answer me.+
My concern makes me restless,+And I am distraught
3 Because of what the enemy is sayingAnd the pressure from the wicked one.
For they heap trouble upon me,And in anger they harbor animosity against me.+
4 My heart is in anguish within me,+And the terrors of death overwhelm me.+
5 Fear and trembling come upon me,And shuddering grips me.
6 I keep saying: “If only I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and reside in safety.
7 Look! I would flee far away.+
I would lodge in the wilderness.+ (Selah)
8 I would hurry to a place of shelterAway from the raging wind, away from the storm.”
9 Confuse them, O Jehovah, and frustrate their plans,*+For I have seen violence and conflict in the city.
10 Day and night they walk around on its walls;Within it are malice and trouble.+
11 Ruin is in its midst;Oppression and deception never depart from its public square.+
12 For it is not an enemy who taunts me;+Otherwise I could put up with it.
It is not a foe who has risen up against me;Otherwise I could conceal myself from him.
13 But it is you, a man like me,*+My own companion whom I know well.+
14 We used to enjoy a warm friendship together;Into the house of God we used to walk along with the multitude.
15 May destruction overtake them!+
Let them go down alive into the Grave;*For evil resides among them and within them.
16 As for me, I will call out to God,And Jehovah will save me.+
17 Evening and morning and noontime, I am troubled and I groan,*+And he hears my voice.+
18 He will rescue* me and give me* peace from those fighting against me,For multitudes come against me.+
19 God will hear and respond to them,+The one who sits enthroned from of old.+ (Selah)
They will refuse to change,Those who have not feared God.+
20 He* attacked those at peace with him;+He violated his covenant.+
21 His words are smoother than butter,+But conflict is in his heart.
His words are softer than oil,But they are drawn swords.+
22 Throw your burden on Jehovah,+And he will sustain you.+
Never will he allow the righteous one to fall.*+
23 But you, O God, will bring them down to the deepest pit.+
Those bloodguilty and deceitful men will not live out half their days.+
But as for me, I will trust in you.
Footnotes
^ Or “And do not hide yourself when I pray for help.”
^ Lit., “divide their tongue.”
^ Or “a man, my equal.”
^ Or “I am boisterous.”
^ Lit., “redeem.”
^ Or “my soul.”
^ That is, the former friend mentioned in vss. 13 and 14.
^ Or “stagger; totter.”