Psalms 55
55
To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David.
1Give ear to my prayer, O God;
and hide not thyself from my supplication!
2Attend to me, and answer me;
I am overcome by my trouble.
I am distraught 3by the noise of the enemy,
because of the oppression of the wicked.
For they bring#55.3 Cn Compare Gk: Heb they cause to totter trouble upon me,
and in anger they cherish enmity against me.
4My heart is in anguish within me,
the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
5Fear and trembling come upon me,
and horror overwhelms me.
6And I say, “O that I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest;
7yea, I would wander afar,
I would lodge in the wilderness, Selah
8I would haste to find me a shelter
from the raging wind and tempest.”
9Destroy their plans,#55.9 Tg: Heb lacks their plans O Lord, confuse their tongues;
for I see violence and strife in the city.
10Day and night they go around it
on its walls;
and mischief and trouble are within it,
11ruin is in its midst;
oppression and fraud
do not depart from its market place.
12It is not an enemy who taunts me—
then I could bear it;
it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me—
then I could hide from him.
13But it is you, my equal,
my companion, my familiar friend.
14We used to hold sweet converse together;
within God's house we walked in fellowship.
15Let death#55.15 Or desolations come upon them;
let them go down to Sheol alive;
let them go away in terror into their graves.#55.15 Cn: Heb evils are in their habitation, in their midst
16But I call upon God;
and the Lord will save me.
17Evening and morning and at noon
I utter my complaint and moan,
and he will hear my voice.
18He will deliver my soul in safety
from the battle that I wage,
for many are arrayed against me.
19God will give ear, and humble them,
he who is enthroned from of old;
because they keep no law,#55.19 Or do not change
and do not fear God. Selah
20My companion stretched out his hand against his friends,
he violated his covenant.
21His speech was smoother than butter,
yet war was in his heart;
his words were softer than oil,
yet they were drawn swords.
22 #
1 Pet 5.7. Cast your burden#55.22 Or what he has given you on the Lord,
and he will sustain you;
he will never permit
the righteous to be moved.
23But thou, O God, wilt cast them down
into the lowest pit;
men of blood and treachery
shall not live out half their days.
But I will trust in thee.
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Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America
Psalms 55
55
Psalm 55#In Hebrew texts 55:1-23 is numbered 55:2-24.
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil#Title: 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 worshippers.
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.
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