Psalms 55
55
PSALM 55
Common Meter: 8,6,8,6
To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil,
A Psalm of David.
1Lord, hear my pray'r, hide not thyself
from my entreating voice:
2Attend and hear me; in my plaint
I mourn and make a noise.
3Because of th' en'my's voice, and for
lewd men's oppression great:
On me they cast iniquity,
and they in wrath me hate.
4Sore pain'd within me is my heart:
death's terrors on me fall.
5On me comes trembling, fear and dread
o'erwhelmed me withal.
6O that I, like a dove, had wings,
said I, then would I flee
Far hence, that I might find a place
where I in rest might be.
7Lo, then far off I wander would,
and in the desert stay;
8From windy storm and tempest I
would haste to 'scape away.
9O Lord, on them destruction bring,
and do their tongues divide;
For in the city violence and strife I have espy'd.
10They day and night upon the walls
do go about it round:
There mischief is, and sorrow there
in midst of it is found.
11Abundant wickedness there is
within her inward part;
And from her streets deceitfulness
and guile do not depart.
12He was no foe that me reproach'd,
then that endure I could;
Nor hater that did 'gainst me boast,
from him me hide I would.
13But thou, man, who mine equal, guide,
and mine acquaintance wast:
14We join'd sweet counsels, to God's house
in company we past.
15Let death upon them seize, and down
let them go quick to hell;
For wickedness doth much abound
among them where they dwell.
16I'll call on God: God will me save.
17I'll pray, and make a noise
At ev'ning, morning, and at noon;
and he shall hear my voice.
18He hath my soul delivered,
that it in peace might be
From battle that against me was;
for many were with me.
19The Lord shall hear, and them afflict,
of old who hath abode:
Because they never changes have,
therefore they fear not God.
20'Gainst those that were at peace with him
he hath put forth his hand:
The covenant that he had made,
by breaking he profan'd.
21More smooth than butter were his words,
while in his heart was war;
His speeches were more soft than oil,
and yet drawn swords they are.
22Cast thou thy burden on the Lord,
and he shall thee sustain;
Yea, he shall cause the righteous man
unmoved to remain.
23But thou, O Lord my God, those men
in justice shalt o'erthrow,
And in destruction's dungeon dark
at last shalt lay them low:
The bloody and deceitful men
shall not live half their days:
But upon thee with confidence
I will depend always.
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Psalms 55: MP1650
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maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society
Psalms 55
55
Psalm 55
David wrote this special song for the music leader. Use stringed instruments when you sing it.
A prayer when a friend turns against you #55:1 The psalm has three parts: Verses 1-8: David tells us that his enemies have made him afraid. Verses 9-14: David tells us that his friend has turned against him. Verses 15-23: David prays that God will punish his enemies.
1God, listen to my prayer.
Do not turn away
when I ask you to help me.
2Listen carefully and answer me.
I am very upset because of all my troubles.
They are too many for me.
3I am afraid because of what my enemies say.
Those wicked people give me much pain.
They are so angry that they hate me
and they give me nothing but trouble.
4My heart beats fast inside me.
Death seems very near,
and I am very afraid.
5I am shaking with fear!
My troubles are too much for me.
6So I say, ‘If I had wings to fly like a dove,
I would fly away to a safe place.
7Yes! I would go far away,
and I would live in the wilderness.
Selah.
8I would go quickly to a safe place.
The strong winds and storms of my enemies
would not reach me there!’
9My Lord, make my enemies confused!
Stop them from doing what they want to do.
Everywhere that I look in the city,
I see that they do cruel things to attack people. #55:9 The city is Jerusalem, where David lived.
10They walk on the city's walls
in the day and at night.
Inside the city they do evil things
that bring trouble everywhere.
11They destroy everything!
In all the city's streets, they move freely.
They hurt people and they cheat them.
12But it is not my enemies that have insulted me.
That would not have hurt me.
If my enemy laughs at me,
I can always hide from him!
13But it is you, my best friend!
We did things as men together,
and I trusted you!
14We enjoyed our time together.
We often went to God's temple,
and we joined with the crowd of people there.
15Please let death suddenly destroy my enemies!
May they go down into their graves alive!
They are at home with evil,
and that is all that they think about.
16But I will call to God for help.
The Lord will make me safe.
17I will weep and cry to him,
morning, noon and night.
He will listen to what I say.
18I have very many enemies
who attack me all the time.
But God will rescue me and keep me safe.
19God has always ruled everything as king.
He will listen to me,
and he will punish my enemies.
Selah.
They refuse to change their thoughts,
and they do not respect God.
20But my friend has turned against his own friends.
He has not been a true friend,
as he promised to be.
21He speaks a message of peace,
but he is really thinking about war.
His words are easy to listen to,
but they hurt like sharp knives.
22Take your problems to the Lord.
He will take care of you.
He will never let his own people fall. #55:22 See 1 Peter 5:7.
23And as for wicked people,
you, God, will send them to their graves.
They will go down into the deep hole of death
while they are still young.
That is what will happen to those cruel people,
who kill and cheat others.
But I will trust in you, God.
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