Psalm 55
For the director of music. A maskil of David to be played on stringed instruments.
1God, listen to my prayer.
Pay attention to my cry for help.
2Hear me and answer me.
My thoughts upset me. I’m very troubled.
3I’m troubled by what my enemies say about me.
I’m upset because they say they will harm me.
They cause me all kinds of suffering.
When they are angry, they attack me with their words.
4I feel great pain deep down inside me.
The terrors of death have fallen on me.
5Fear and trembling have taken hold of me.
Panic has overpowered me.
6I said, “I wish I had wings like a dove!
Then I would fly away and be at rest.
7I would escape to a place far away.
I would stay out in the desert.
8I would hurry to my place of safety.
It would be far away from the winds and storms I’m facing.”
9Lord, confuse the sinners and keep them from understanding one another.
I see people destroying things and fighting in the city.
10Day and night they prowl around on top of its walls.
The city is full of crime and trouble.
11Forces that destroy are at work inside it.
Its streets are full of people who cheat others and take advantage of them.
12If an enemy were making fun of me,
I could stand it.
If he were getting ready to oppose me,
I could hide.
13But it’s you, someone like myself.
It’s my companion, my close friend.
14We used to enjoy good friendship at the house of God.
We used to walk together among those who came to worship.
15Let death take my enemies by surprise.
Let them be buried alive,
because their hearts and homes are full of evil.
16But I call out to God.
And the Lord saves me.
17Evening, morning and noon
I groan and cry out.
And he hears my voice.
18Even though many enemies are fighting against me,
he brings me safely back from the battle.
19God has been on his throne since ancient times and does not change.
He will hear my enemies and make them humble.
That’s because they have no respect for God.
20My companion attacks his friends.
He breaks his promise.
21His talk is as smooth as butter.
But he has war in his heart.
His words flow like olive oil.
But they are like swords ready for battle.
22Turn your worries over to the Lord.
He will keep you going.
He will never let godly people be shaken.
23God, you will bring sinners
down to the grave.
Murderers and liars
won’t live out even half of their lives.
But I trust in you.
Psalm 55In Hebrew texts 55:1-23 is numbered 55:2-24.
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskilTitle: Probably a literary or musical term of David.
1Listen to my prayer, O God,
do not ignore my plea;
2hear me and answer me.
My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught
3because of what my enemy is saying,
because of the threats of the wicked;
for they bring down suffering on me
and assail me in their anger.
4My heart is in anguish within me;
the terrors of death have fallen on me.
5Fear and trembling have beset me;
horror has overwhelmed me.
6I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest.
7I would flee far away
and stay in the desert;55:7 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and in the middle of verse 19.
8I would hurry to my place of shelter,
far from the tempest and storm.”
9Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words,
for I see violence and strife in the city.
10Day and night they prowl about on its walls;
malice and abuse are within it.
11Destructive forces are at work in the city;
threats and lies never leave its streets.
12If an enemy were insulting me,
I could endure it;
if a foe were rising against me,
I could hide.
13But it is you, a man like myself,
my companion, my close friend,
14with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship
at the house of God,
as we walked about
among the worshipers.
15Let death take my enemies by surprise;
let them go down alive to the realm of the dead,
for evil finds lodging among them.
16As for me, I call to God,
and the Lord saves me.
17Evening, morning and noon
I cry out in distress,
and he hears my voice.
18He rescues me unharmed
from the battle waged against me,
even though many oppose me.
19God, who is enthroned from of old,
who does not change—
he will hear them and humble them,
because they have no fear of God.
20My companion attacks his friends;
he violates his covenant.
21His talk is smooth as butter,
yet war is in his heart;
his words are more soothing than oil,
yet they are drawn swords.
22Cast your cares on the Lord
and he will sustain you;
he will never let
the righteous be shaken.
23But you, God, will bring down the wicked
into the pit of decay;
the bloodthirsty and deceitful
will not live out half their days.
But as for me, I trust in you.
