Psalms 55
55
Psalm 55
For the choir director; on stringed instruments; a maskil by David.
1Open your ears to my prayer, O God.
Do not hide from my plea for mercy.
2Pay attention to me, and answer me.
My thoughts are restless, and I am confused
3because my enemy shouts at me
and a wicked person persecutes me.
They bring misery crashing down on me,
and they attack me out of anger.
4My heart is in turmoil.
The terrors of death have seized me.
5Fear and trembling have overcome me.
Horror has overwhelmed me.
6I said, “If only I had wings like a dove—
I would fly away and find rest.
7Indeed, I would run far away.
I would stay in the desert. Selah
8I would hurry to find shelter
from the raging wind and storm.”
9Completely confuse their language, O Lord,
because I see violence and conflict in the city.
10Day and night they go around on ⌞top of⌟ the city walls.
Trouble and misery are everywhere.
11Destruction is everywhere.
Oppression and fraud never leave the streets.#55:11 Or “its marketplace.”
12If an enemy had insulted me,
then I could bear it.
If someone who hated me had attacked me,
then I could hide from him.
13But it is you, my equal,
my best friend,
one I knew so well!
14We used to talk to each other in complete confidence
and walk into God’s house with the festival crowds.
15Let death suddenly take ⌞wicked people⌟!
Let them go into the grave while they are still alive,
because evil lives in their homes as well as in their hearts.
16But I call on God,
and the Lord saves me.
17Morning, noon, and night I complain and groan,
and he listens to my voice.
18With ⌞his⌟ peace, he will rescue my soul
from the war waged against me,
because there are many ⌞soldiers fighting⌟ against me.
19God will listen.
The one who has sat enthroned from the beginning
will deal with them. Selah
They never change. They never fear God.
20 ⌞My best friend⌟ has betrayed his friends.
He has broken his solemn promise.
21His speech is smoother than butter,
but there is war in his heart.
His words are more soothing than oil,
but they are like swords ready to attack.
22Turn your burdens over to the Lord,
and he will take care of you.
He will never let the righteous person stumble.
23But you, O God, will throw ⌞wicked people⌟ into the deepest pit.
Bloodthirsty and deceitful people will not live out half their days.
But I will trust you.
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Psalms 55: GW
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GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.
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. 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.