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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Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc
Psalms 55
55
The Prayer of Someone Betrayed by a Friend#Ps 55 Hebrew title: A poem by David.
1Hear my prayer, O God;
don't turn away from my plea!
2Listen to me and answer me;
I am worn out by my worries.
3I am terrified by the threats of my enemies,
crushed by the oppression of the wicked.
They bring trouble on me;
they are angry with me and hate me.
4I am terrified,
and the terrors of death crush me.
5I am gripped by fear and trembling;
I am overcome with horror.
6I wish I had wings, like a dove.
I would fly away and find rest.
7I would fly far away
and make my home in the desert.
8I would quickly find myself a shelter
from the raging wind and the storm.
9Confuse the speech of my enemies, O Lord!
I see violence and riots in the city,
10surrounding it day and night,
filling it with crime and trouble.
11There is destruction everywhere;
the streets are full of oppression and fraud.
12If it were an enemy that mocked me,
I could endure it;
if it were an opponent boasting over me,
I could hide myself from him.
13But it is you, my companion,
my colleague and close friend.
14We had intimate talks with each other
and worshipped together in the Temple.
15May my enemies die before their time;
may they go down alive into the world of the dead!
Evil is in their homes and in their hearts.
16But I call to the LORD God for help,
and he will save me.
17Morning, noon, and night
my complaints and groans go up to him,
and he will hear my voice.
18He will bring me safely back
from the battles that I fight
against so many enemies.
19God, who has ruled from eternity,
will hear me and defeat them;
for they refuse to change,
and they do not fear him.
20My former companion attacked his friends;
he broke his promises.
21His words were smoother than cream,
but there was hatred in his heart;
his words were as soothing as oil,
but they cut like sharp swords.
22Leave your troubles with the LORD,
and he will defend you;
he never lets honest people be defeated.
23But you, O God, will bring those murderers and liars to their graves
before half their life is over.
As for me, I will trust in you.
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Good News Bible with Deuterocanonicals/Apocrypha. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.