Psalms 55
55
Psalm 55
For the music leader. With stringed instruments. A maskil#55.0 Perhaps instruction of David.
1God, listen to my prayer;
don’t avoid my request!
2Pay attention! Answer me!
I can’t sit still while complaining.
I’m beside myself
3over the enemy’s noise,
at the wicked person’s racket,
because they bring disaster on me
and harass me furiously.
4My heart pounds in my chest
because death’s terrors have reached me.
5Fear and trembling have come upon me;
I’m shaking all over.
6I say to myself,
I wish I had wings like a dove!
I’d fly away and rest.
7I’d run so far away!
I’d live in the desert. Selah
8I’d hurry to my hideout,
far from the rushing wind and storm.
9Baffle them, my Lord!
Confuse their language
because I see violence and conflict in the city.
10Day and night they make their rounds on its walls,
and evil and misery live inside it.
11Disaster lives inside it;
oppression and fraud never leave the town square.
12It’s not an enemy that is insulting me—
I could handle that.
It’s not someone who hates me
who is exalted over me—
I could hide from them.
13No. It’s you, my equal,
my close companion, my good friend!
14It was so pleasant when
together we entered God’s house with the crowd.
15Let death devastate my enemies;
let them go to the grave#55.15 Heb Sheol alive
because evil lives with them—
even inside them!
16But I call out to God,
and the LORD will rescue me.
17At evening, morning, and midday
I complain and moan
so that God will hear my voice.
18He saves me,#55.18 Or my life or soul unharmed, from my struggle,
though there are many who are out to get me.
19God, who is enthroned from ancient days,
will hear and humble them Selah
because they don’t change
and they don’t worship God.
20My friend attacked his allies,
breaking his covenant.
21Though his talk is smoother than butter,
war is in his heart;
though his words are more silky than oil,
they are really drawn swords:
22“Cast your burden on the LORD—
he will support you!
God will never let the righteous be shaken!”
23But you, God, bring the wicked
down to the deepest pit.
Let bloodthirsty and treacherous people
not live out even half their days.
But me? I trust in you!
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2011 Common English Bible. All rights reserved.
Psalms 55
55
A Lament over Betrayal
1For the leader. On stringed instruments. A maskil of David.
I
2Listen, God, to my prayer;#Ps 5:2–3; 86:6; 130:1–2; Lam 3:56; Jon 2:3.
do not hide from my pleading;
3hear me and give answer.
I rock with grief; I groan
4at the uproar of the enemy,
the clamor of the wicked.
They heap trouble upon me,
savagely accuse me.
5My heart pounds within me;
death’s terrors fall upon me.
6Fear and trembling overwhelm me;
shuddering sweeps over me.
7I say, “If only I had wings like a dove
that I might fly away and find rest.#Ps 11:1.
8Far away I would flee;
I would stay in the desert.#Jer 9:1; Rev 12:6.
Selah
9“I would soon find a shelter
from the raging wind and storm.”
II
10Lord, check and confuse their tongues.
For I see violence and strife in the city
11making rounds on its walls day and night.
Within are mischief and trouble;
12treachery is in its midst;
oppression and fraud never leave its streets.#Jer 5:1; 6:6; Ez 22:2; Heb 1:3; Zep 3:1.
13For it is not an enemy that reviled me—
that I could bear—
Not a foe who viewed me with contempt,
from that I could hide.
14But it was you, my other self,
my comrade and friend,#Ps 41:10; Jer 9:3; Mt 26:21–24 par.
15You, whose company I enjoyed,
at whose side I walked
in the house of God.
III
16Let death take them;
let them go down alive to Sheol,#Ps 49:15; Nm 16:33; Prv 1:2; Is 5:14.
for evil is in their homes and bellies.
17But I will call upon God,
and the Lord will save me.
18At dusk, dawn, and noon
I will grieve and complain,
and my prayer will be heard.#Dn 6:11.
19He will redeem my soul in peace
from those who war against me,
though there are many who oppose me.
20God, who sits enthroned forever,#Ps 29:10; 93:2; Bar 3:3.
will hear me and afflict them.
Selah
For they will not mend their ways;
they have no fear of God.
21He stretched out his hand at his friends
and broke his covenant.
22Softer than butter is his speech,
but war is in his heart.
Smoother than oil are his words,
but they are unsheathed swords.#Ps 12:3; 28:3; 57:5; 62:5; 64:4; Prv 26:24–28; Jer 9:7.
23Cast your care upon the Lord,
who will give you support.
He will never allow
the righteous to stumble.#Ps 37:5; Prv 3:5; 16:3; 1 Pt 5:7.
24But you, God, will bring them down
to the pit of destruction.#Ps 28:1; 30:4; 40:3; 88:5; 143:7; Prv 1:12; Jon 2:7.
These bloodthirsty liars
will not live half their days,
but I put my trust in you.#Ps 25:2; 56:4; 130:5.
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