Psalms 55

1Give ear to my prayer, O God; And hide not thyself from my supplication.

1Listen to my prayer, O God, and do not ignore my plea for mercy.

2Attend unto me, and answer me: I am restless in my complaint, and moan,

2Please pay attention and answer me. I am troubled and restless in my complaints.

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.

3I am shaken by the shouts of my enemy and the pressure from the wicked; they bring trouble upon me and attack me in their anger.

4My heart is sore pained within me: And the terrors of death are fallen upon me.

4My heart is pounding within me, and the terrors of death have overwhelmed me.

5Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, And horror hath overwhelmed me.

5Fear and trembling have gripped me, and I am paralyzed by horror.

6And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then would I fly away, and be at rest.

6I said, 'I wish I had wings like a dove! Then I would fly away and find rest.'

7Lo, then would I wander far off, I would lodge in the wilderness. [Selah

7Yes, I would wander far away and stay in the desert.

8I would haste me to a shelter From the stormy wind and tempest.

8I would hurry to find a shelter from the raging wind and the storm.

9Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongue; For I have seen violence and strife in the city.

9O Lord, confuse them and frustrate their plans, for I see violence and fighting throughout the city. day and night.

10Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: Iniquity also and mischief are in the midst of it.

10Day and night they patrol the city walls; trouble and evil are everywhere inside.

11Wickedness is in the midst thereof: Oppression and guile depart not from its streets.

11Destruction is in its streets; threats and lies never leave the public square.

12For it was not an enemy that reproached me; Then I could have borne it: Neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; Then I would have hid myself from him:

12It wasn't an enemy insulting me; I could have endured that. It wasn't a foe acting superior to me; I could have hidden from him.

13But it was thou, a man mine equal, My companion, and my familiar friend.

13But it was you—my equal, my companion, and my close friend.

14We took sweet counsel together; We walked in the house of God with the throng.

14We used to share our deepest thoughts and walk together with the crowds in the house of God.

15Let death come suddenly upon them, Let them go down alive into Sheol; For wickedness is in their dwelling, in the midst of them.

15Let death take my enemies by surprise; let them go down alive into the grave, for evil lives in their homes and in their hearts.

16As for me, I will call upon God; And Jehovah will save me.

16But I will call out to God, and the LORD will save me.

17Evening, and morning, and at noonday, will I complain, and moan; And he will hear my voice.

17Evening, morning, and noon I cry out in my distress, and he hears my voice.

18He hath redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me; For they were many that strove with me.

18He rescues me and keeps me safe from the battle waged against me, even though many are opposing me.

19God will hear, and answer them, Even he that abideth of old, [Selah The menwho have no changes, And who fear not God.

19God, who sits on his throne from long ago, will hear me and humble them. They refuse to change their ways and have no fear of God.

20He hath put forth his hands against such as were at peace with him: He hath profaned his covenant.

20My former friend turned against his companions; he broke his solemn promise.

21His mouth was smooth as butter, But his heart was war: His words were softer than oil, Yet were they drawn swords.

21His speech was as smooth as butter, but war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were like drawn swords.

22Cast thy burden upon Jehovah, and he will sustain thee: He will never suffer the righteous to be moved.

22Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you; he will never let the godly person fall.

23But thou, O God, wilt bring them down into the pit of destruction: Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; But I will trust in thee.

23But you, O God, will throw the wicked into the pit of destruction; murderers and liars will not live out half their lives. As for me, I will trust in you.