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.
Currently Selected:
Psalms 55: NABRE
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc
Psalms 55
55
A Prayer About a False Friend
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil of David.
1God, listen to my prayer
and do not ignore my cry for help.
2Pay attention to me and answer me.
I am troubled and upset
3by what the enemy says
and how the wicked look at me.
They bring troubles down on me,
and in anger they attack me.
4I am frightened inside;
the terror of death has attacked me.
5I am scared and shaking,
and terror grips me.
6I said, “I wish I had wings like a dove.
Then I would fly away and rest.
7I would wander far away
and stay in the desert.Selah
8I would hurry to my place of escape,
far away from the wind and storm.”
9Lord, destroy and confuse their words,
because I see violence and fighting in the city.
10Day and night they are all around its walls,
and evil and trouble are everywhere inside.
11Destruction is everywhere in the city;
trouble and lying never leave its streets.
12It was not an enemy insulting me.
I could stand that.
It was not someone who hated me.
I could hide from him.
13But it is you, a person like me,
my companion and good friend.
14We had a good friendship
and walked together to God’s Temple.
15Let death take away my enemies.
Let them die while they are still young
because evil lives with them.
16But I will call to God for help,
and the Lord will save me.
17Morning, noon, and night I am troubled and upset,
but he will listen to me.
18Many are against me,
but he keeps me safe in battle.
19God who lives forever
will hear me and punish them.Selah
But they will not change;
they do not fear God.
20The one who was my friend attacks his friends
and breaks his promises.
21His words are slippery like butter,
but war is in his heart.
His words are smoother than oil,
but they cut like knives.
22Give your worries to the Lord,
and he will take care of you.
He will never let good people down.
23But, God, you will bring down
the wicked to the grave.
Murderers and liars will live
only half a lifetime.
But I will trust in you.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
The Holy Bible, New Century Version, Copyright © 2005 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.