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 Listen to my prayer, God. Don’t hide yourself from my supplication.

2 Attend to me and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and distraught

2 Attend to me, and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and moan

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 bring suffering on me. In anger they hold a grudge against me.

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

4 My heart is severely pained within me. The terrors of death have fallen on me.

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

5 Fearfulness and trembling have come on me. Horror has overwhelmed me.

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

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

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

7 Behold, then I would wander far off. I would lodge in the wilderness.” Selah.

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

8 “I would hurry to a shelter from the stormy wind and storm.”

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

9 Confuse them, Lord, and confound their language, 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 prowl around on its walls. Malice and abuse are also within her.

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

11 Destructive forces are within her. Threats and lies don’t depart 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 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.

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

13 But it was you, a man like me, my companion, and my familiar friend.

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

14 We took sweet fellowship together. We walked in God’s house with 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 come suddenly on them. Let them go down alive into Sheol. For wickedness is among them, in their dwelling.

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

16 As for me, I will call on God. Yahweh will save me.

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

17 Evening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress. He will hear my voice.

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

18 He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, although there are many who oppose 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, who is enthroned forever, will hear and answer them. Selah. They never change and don’t fear God.

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

20 He raises his hands against his friends. He has violated 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 His mouth was smooth as butter, but his heart was war. His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.

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

22 Cast your burden on Yahweh and he will sustain you. He will never allow 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 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.