Psalms 55

1 For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Maskil of David. Listen to my prayer, O God, and do not ignore my plea.

1 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 distraught

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

3 at the voice of the enemy, at the pressure of the wicked. For they bring down disaster upon me and resent me in their anger.

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.

4 My heart pounds within me, and the terrors of death assail me.

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

5 Fear and trembling grip me, and horror has overwhelmed me.

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

6 I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest.

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

7 How far away I would flee! In the wilderness I would remain. Selah

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

8 I would hurry to my shelter, far from this raging tempest.”

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

9 O Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city.

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

10 Day and night they encircle the walls, while malice and trouble lie within.

10 Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.

11 Destruction is within; oppression and deceit never leave the streets.

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

12 For it is not an enemy who insults me; that I could endure. It is not a foe who rises against me; from him I could hide.

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

13 But it is you, a man like myself, my companion and close friend.

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

14 We shared sweet fellowship together; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.

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

15 Let death seize them by surprise; let them go down to Sheol alive, for evil is with them in their homes.

15 Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.

16 But I call to God, and the LORD saves me.

16 As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.

17 Morning, noon, and night, I cry out in distress, and He hears my voice.

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

18 He redeems my soul in peace from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me.

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

19 God will hear and humiliate them—the One enthroned for the ages—Selah because they do not change and they have no fear of God.

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

20 My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.

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

21 His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed.

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.

22 Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.

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

23 But You, O God, will bring them down to the Pit of destruction; men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You.

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.