Psalms, 55

0.

0. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David.

1. [For the choirmaster For strings Poem Of David] God, hear my prayer, do not hide away from my plea,

1. Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication!

2. give me a hearing, answer me, my troubles give me no peace. I shudder

2. Attend to me, and answer me; I am overcome by my trouble. I am distraught

3. at the enemy's shouts, at the outcry of the wicked; they heap up charges against me, in their anger bring hostile accusations against me.

3. by the noise of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they bring trouble upon me, and in anger they cherish enmity against me.

4. My heart writhes within me, the terrors of death come upon me,

4. My heart is in anguish within me, the terrors of death have fallen upon me.

5. fear and trembling overwhelm me, and shuddering grips me.

5. Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me.

6. And I say, 'Who will give me wings like a dove, to fly away and find rest?'

6. And I say, "O that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest;

7. How far I would escape, and make a nest in the desert!Pause

7. yea, I would wander afar, I would lodge in the wilderness, [Selah]

8. I would soon find a refuge from the storm of abuse, from the

8. I would haste to find me a shelter from the raging wind and tempest."

9. destructive tempest, Lord, from the flood of their tongues. For I see violence and strife in the city,

9. Destroy their plans, O Lord, confuse their tongues; for I see violence and strife in the city.

10. day and night they make their rounds along the city walls, Inside live malice and mischief,

10. Day and night they go around it on its walls; and mischief and trouble are within it,

11. inside lives destruction, tyranny and treachery never absent from its central square.

11. ruin is in its midst; oppression and fraud do not depart from its market place.

12. Were it an enemy who insulted me, that I could bear; if an opponent pitted himself against me, I could turn away from him.

12. It is not an enemy who taunts me -- then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me -- then I could hide from him.

13. But you, a person of my own rank, a comrade and dear friend,

13. But it is you, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend.

14. to whom I was bound by intimate friendship in the house of God! May they recoil in disorder,

14. We used to hold sweet converse together; within God's house we walked in fellowship.

15. may death descend on them, may they go down alive to Sheol, since evil shares their home with them.

15. Let death come upon them; let them go down to Sheol alive; let them go away in terror into their graves.

16. For my part, I appeal to God, and Yahweh saves me;

16. But I call upon God; and the LORD will save me.

17. evening, morning, noon, I complain and I groan. He hears my cry,

17. Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he will hear my voice.

18. he ransoms me and gives me peace from the feud against me, for they are taking me to law.

18. He will deliver my soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against me.

19. But God will listen and will humble them, he who has been enthroned from the beginning; no change of heart for them, for they do not fear God.

19. God will give ear, and humble them, he who is enthroned from of old; because they keep no law, and do not fear God. [Selah]

20. They attack those at peace with them, going back on their oaths;

20. My companion stretched out his hand against his friends, he violated his covenant.

21. though their mouth is smoother than butter, enmity is in their hearts; their words more soothing than oil, yet sharpened like swords.

21. His speech was smoother than butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.

22. Unload your burden onto Yahweh and he will sustain you; never will he allow the upright to stumble.

22. Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

23. You, God, will thrust them down to the abyss of destruction, men bloodthirsty and deceptive, before half their days are spent. For my part, I put my trust in you.

23. But thou, O God, wilt cast them down into the lowest pit; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in thee.