Psalms 55

PSALM 55

Prayer for the Destruction of the Treacherous.

To the Chief Musician; with stringed instruments. A skillful song, or a didactic or reflective poem, of David.

1Listen to my prayer, O God,

And do not hide Yourself from my plea.

2Listen to me and answer me;

I am restless and distraught in my complaint and distracted

3Because of the voice of the enemy,

Because of the pressure of the wicked;

For they bring down trouble on me,

And in anger they persecute me.

4My heart is in anguish within me,

And the terrors of death have fallen upon me.

5Fear and trembling have come upon me;

Horror has overwhelmed me.

6And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove!

I would fly away and be at rest.

7I would wander far away,

I would lodge in the [peace of the] wilderness. Selah.

8I would hurry to my refuge [my tranquil shelter far away]

From the stormy wind and from the tempest.”

9 # Lit swallow up. Confuse [my enemies], O Lord, divide their tongues [destroying their schemes],

For I have seen violence and strife in the city.

10Day and night they go around her walls;

Wickedness and mischief are in her midst.

11Destruction is within her;

Oppression and deceit do not depart from her streets and market places.

12For it is not an enemy who taunts me—

Then I could bear it;

Nor is it one who has hated me who insolently exalts himself against me—

Then I could hide from him.

13But it is you, a man my equal and my counsel,

My companion and my familiar friend;

14We who had sweet #Lit counsel; or intimacy.fellowship together,

Who walked to the house of God in company.

15Let death come deceitfully upon them;

Let them go down alive to Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead),

For evil [of every kind] is in their dwelling and in their hearts, in their midst.

16As for me, I shall call upon God,

And the Lord will save me.

17Evening and morning and at noon I will complain and murmur,

And He will hear my voice.

18He has redeemed my life in peace from the battle that was against me,

For there were many against me.

19God will hear and humble them,

Even He who #Or abides.sits enthroned from old— Selah.

Because in them there has been no change [of heart],

And they do not fear God [at all].

20He [my companion] has put out his hands against those who were at peace with him;

He has #Lit profaned.broken his covenant [of friendship and loyalty].

21The words of his mouth were smoother than butter,

But his heart was hostile;

His words were softer than oil,

Yet they were drawn swords.

22Cast your burden on the Lord [release it] and He will sustain and uphold you;

He will never allow the righteous to be shaken (slip, fall, fail).

23But You, O God, will bring down the wicked to the pit of destruction;

Men of blood and treachery will not live out half their days.

But I will [boldly and unwaveringly] trust in You.

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