Psalms, 55

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

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

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

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. 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 writhes within me, the terrors of death come upon me,

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

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

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

6. And I say, 'Who will give me wings like a dove, to 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 I would escape, and make a nest in the desert!Pause

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

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

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

9. destructive tempest, Lord, from the flood of their tongues. 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 make their rounds along the city walls, Inside live malice and mischief,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

17. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall 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 hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle [that was] against me: for there were many with 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 shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.

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

20. He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken 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. [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. Unload your burden onto Yahweh and he will sustain you; never will he allow the upright to stumble.

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