Psalms 55

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

12 For 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

23 But 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

1 an instruction of David to sing on strings.

2 God, hear my prayer and do not hide from my supplication.

3 Take heed unto me, and hear me, how I mourn and howl,

4 That the enemy crieth, and the wicked presseth: for they will prove me a fool, and are sore grieved against me.

5 My heart is troubled in my flesh, and the fear of death is fallen upon me.

6 Fear and trembling is come upon me, and horror hath overtaken me.

7 And I said, O that I had wings like doves, that I might fly and stay!

8 Behold, I will depart afar off, and dwell in the wilderness. Sela.

9 I would hasten that I might be deadened from the tempest and from the weather.

10 Make their tongues divided, O LORD, and let them perish: for I see iniquity and strife in the city.

11 These things go round about within their walls day and night: there is toil and labour within them.

12 Wickedness reigneth within: lying and deceitfulness depart not from her lane.

13 But if mine enemy ravished me, I would suffer it: and if my hater pierced me, I would hide myself from him;

14 But thou art my journeyman, and my keeper, and my kinsman,

15 Who were friendly with one another among ourselves; we walked in the house of God in multitudes.

16 death overtakes them, and must go alive into hell: for there is wickedness among their multitude.

17 But I will cry unto God, and the LORD shall help me.

18 In the evening, and in the morning, and at noon, will I mourn and howl; and he shall hear my voice.

19 He redeemeth my soul from them that seek me, and restoreth it: for they are many against me.

20 God will hear and humble them, who abides all the way. Sela. For they will not be different and will not fear God.

21 For they lay their hands on his seed of peace, and profane his covenant.

22 Their mouth is smoother than butter, and yet they have war in mind; their words are softer than oil, and yet they are mere swords.

23 Cast thine affliction upon the LORD. He will provide for thee, and will not leave the righteous in trouble for ever.

24 But, O GOD, you will push them down into the deep pit. The bloodthirsty and the false will not bring their lives to the half. But I hope in you.