Psalms — Chapter 55

1For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Maskil of David. Listen to my prayer, O God, and do not ignore my plea.

2Attend to me and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and distraught

3at the voice of the enemy, at the pressure of the wicked. For they bring down disaster upon me and resent me in their anger.

4My heart pounds within me, and the terrors of death assail me.

5Fear and trembling grip me, and horror has overwhelmed me.

6I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest.

7How far away I would flee! In the wilderness I would remain. Selah

8I would hurry to my shelter, far from this raging tempest.”

9O Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city.

10Day and night they encircle the walls, while malice and trouble lie within.

11Destruction is within; oppression and deceit never leave the streets.

12For it is not an enemy who insults me; that I could endure. It is not a foe who rises against me; from him I could hide.

13But it is you, a man like myself, my companion and close friend.

14We shared sweet fellowship together; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.

15Let death seize them by surprise; let them go down to Sheol alive, for evil is with them in their homes.

16But I call to God, and the LORD saves me.

17Morning, noon, and night, I cry out in distress, and He hears my voice.

18He redeems my soul in peace from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me.

19God will hear and humiliate them—the One enthroned for the ages—Selah because they do not change and they have no fear of God.

20My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.

21His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed.

22Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.

23But You, O God, will bring them down to the Pit of destruction; men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You.

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

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

3Because 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.

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

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

6And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.

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

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

9Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

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

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

12For 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:

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

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

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

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

17Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

18He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.

19God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.

20He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.

21The 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.

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

23But 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.

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

2Attend unto me, and answer me: I am restless in my complaint, and moan,

3Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked; For they cast iniquity upon me, And in anger they persecute me.

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

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

6And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then would I fly away, and be at rest.

7Lo, then would I wander far off, I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah

8I would haste me to a shelter From the stormy wind and tempest.

9Destroy, O Lord, [and] divide their tongue; For I have seen violence and strife in the city.

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

11Wickedness is in the midst thereof: Oppression and guile depart not from its streets.

12For 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:

13But it was thou, a man mine equal, My companion, and my familiar friend.

14We took sweet counsel together; We walked in the house of God with the throng.

15Let death come suddenly upon them, Let them go down alive into Sheol; For wickedness is in their dwelling, in the midst of them.

16As for me, I will call upon God; And Jehovah will save me.

17Evening, and morning, and at noonday, will I complain, and moan; And he will hear my voice.

18He hath redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me; For they were many [that strove] with me.

19God will hear, and answer them, Even he that abideth of old, Selah [The men] who have no changes, And who fear not God.

20He hath put forth his hands against such as were at peace with him: He hath profaned his covenant.

21His mouth was smooth as butter, But his heart was war: His words were softer than oil, Yet were they drawn swords.

22Cast thy burden upon Jehovah, and he will sustain thee: He will never suffer the righteous to be moved.

23But thou, O God, wilt bring them down into the pit of destruction: Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; But I will trust in thee. Psalm 56 For the Chief Musician; set to Jonath elem rehokim. [A Psalm] of David. Michtam: when the Philistines took him in Gath.

1For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments; a well-written song by David. Listen, O God, to my prayer. Do not ignore my appeal for mercy.

2Pay attention to me and answer me. I am so upset and distressed, I am beside myself,

3because of what the enemy says, and because of how the wicked pressure me, for they hurl trouble down upon me and angrily attack me.

4My heart beats violently within me; the horrors of death overcome me.

5Fear and panic overpower me; terror overwhelms me.

6I say, “I wish I had wings like a dove. I would fly away and settle in a safe place.

7Look, I will escape to a distant place; I will stay in the wilderness. (Selah)

8I will hurry off to a place that is safe from the strong wind and the gale.”

9Confuse them, O Lord. Frustrate their plans. For I see violence and conflict in the city.

10Day and night they walk around on its walls, while wickedness and destruction are within it.

11Disaster is within it; violence and deceit do not depart from its public square.

12Indeed, it is not an enemy who insults me, or else I could bear it; it is not one who hates me who arrogantly taunts me, or else I could hide from him.

13But it is you, a man like me, my close friend in whom I confided.

14We would share personal thoughts with each other; in God’s temple we would walk together among the crowd.

15May death destroy them. May they go down alive into Sheol. For evil is in their dwelling place and in their midst.

16As for me, I will call out to God, and the Lord will deliver me.

17During the evening, morning, and noontime I will lament and moan, and he will hear me.

18He will rescue me and protect me from those who attack me, even though they greatly outnumber me.

19God, the one who has reigned as king from long ago, will hear and humiliate them. (Selah) They refuse to change, and do not fear God.

20He attacks his friends; he breaks his solemn promises to them.

21His words are as smooth as butter, but he harbors animosity in his heart. His words seem softer than oil, but they are really like sharp swords.

22Throw your burden upon the Lord, and he will sustain you. He will never allow the godly to be shaken.

23But you, O God, will bring them down to the deep Pit. Violent and deceitful people will not live even half a normal life-span. But as for me, I trust in you.

1Listen to my prayer, God. Don’t hide yourself from my supplication.

2Attend to me, and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and moan,

3Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked. For they bring suffering on me. In anger they hold a grudge against me.

4My heart is severely pained within me. The terrors of death have fallen on me.

5Fearfulness and trembling have come on me. Horror has overwhelmed me.

6I said, “Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then I would fly away, and be at rest.

7Behold, then I would wander far off. I would lodge in the wilderness.” Selah.

8“I would hurry to a shelter from the stormy wind and storm.”

9Confuse them, Lord, and confound their language, for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

10Day and night they prowl around on its walls. Malice and abuse are also within her.

11Destructive forces are within her. Threats and lies don’t depart from her streets.

12For it was not an enemy who insulted me, then I could have endured it. Neither was it he who hated me who raised himself up against me, then I would have hidden myself from him.

13But it was you, a man like me, my companion, and my familiar friend.

14We took sweet fellowship together. We walked in God’s house with company.

15Let death come suddenly on them. Let them go down alive into Sheol. For wickedness is among them, in their dwelling.

16As for me, I will call on God. Yahweh will save me.

17Evening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress. He will hear my voice.

18He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, although there are many who oppose me.

19God, who is enthroned forever, will hear, and answer them. Selah. They never change, who don’t fear God.

20He raises his hands against his friends. He has violated his covenant.

21His mouth was smooth as butter, but his heart was war. His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.

22Cast your burden on Yahweh, and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved.

23But you, God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction. Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days, but I will trust in you.