Psalms 55
55
PSALM 55
To the chief Musician. On stringed instruments: an instruction. Of David.
1Give ear to my prayer, O God#GodHebrew: Elohim and hide not thyself from my supplication. 2Attend unto me, and answer me: I wander about in my plaint, and I moan aloud, 3Because of the voice of the enemy; because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in anger they persecute me. 4My heart is writhing within me, and the terrors of death are fallen upon me. 5Fear and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. 6And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away, and be at rest; 7Behold, I would flee afar off, I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah; 8I would hasten my escape from the stormy wind, from the tempest.
9Swallow them up, Lord; divide their tongue: for I have seen violence and strife in the city. 10Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof; and iniquity and mischief are in the midst of it. 11Perversities are in the midst thereof; and oppression and deceit depart not from its streets. 12For it is not an enemy that hath reproached me — then could I have borne it; neither is it he that hateth me that hath magnified himself against me — then would I have hidden myself from him; 13But it was thou, a man mine equal, mine intimate, my familiar friend. ... 14We who held sweet intercourse together. To the house of God#GodHebrew: Elohim we walked amid the throng. 15Let death seize upon them, let them go down alive into Sheol. For wickedness is in their dwellings, in their midst.
16As for me, unto God#GodHebrew: Elohim will I call; and Jehovah will save me. 17Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray and moan aloud; and he will hear my voice. 18He hath redeemed my soul in peace from the battle against me: for there were many about me. 19·God#GodHebrew: El will hear, and afflict them: he that is seated of old, (Selah) ...because there is no change in them, and they fear not God#GodHebrew: Elohim 20He hath put forth his hands against such as are at peace with him; he hath profaned his covenant. 21Smooth were the milky words of his mouth, but his heart was war; his words were softer than oil, yet are they drawn swords. 22Cast thy burden upon Jehovah, and he will sustain thee: he will never suffer the righteous to be moved. 23And thou, O God#GodHebrew: Elohim wilt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days. But as for me, I will confide in thee.
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Psalms 55: DARBY
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First published in 1890. This edition is maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.
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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