Psalms 55

1 Give ear to my prayer, OGod; and hide not thyself from my supplication.

1Unto the end, for a people that is removed at a distance from the sanctuary: for David, for an inscription of a title (or pillar) when the Philistines held him in Geth.

1To the Overseer with stringed instruments. --An instruction, by David. Give ear, O God, <FI>to<Fi> my prayer, And hide not from my supplication.

2 Attend unto me, and answer me: I wander about in my plaint, and I moan aloud,

2Have mercy on me, O God, for man hath trodden me under foot; all the day long he hath afflicted me fighting against me.

2Attend to me, and answer me, I mourn in my meditation, and make a noise,

3 Because 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.

3My enemies have trodden on me all the day long; for they are many that make war against me.

3Because of the voice of an enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked, For they cause sorrow to move against me, And in anger they hate me.

4 My heart is writhing within me, and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.

4From the height of the day I shall fear: but I will trust in thee.

4My heart is pained within me, And terrors of death have fallen on me.

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

5In God I will praise my words, in God I have put my trust: I will not fear what flesh can do against me.

5Fear and trembling come in to me, And horror doth cover me.

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

6All the day long they detested my words: all their thoughts were against me unto evil.

6And I say, `Who doth give to me a pinion as a dove? I fly away and rest,

7 Behold, I would flee afar off, I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah;

7They will dwell and hide themselves: they will watch my heel. As they have waited for my soul,

7Lo, I move far off, I lodge in a wilderness. Selah.

8 I would hasten my escape from the stormy wind, from the tempest.

8For nothing shalt thou save them: in thy anger thou shalt break the people in pieces. O God,

8I hasten escape for myself, From a rushing wind, from a whirlwind.

9 Swallow [them] up, Lord; divide their tongue: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

9I have declared to thee my life: thou hast set me tears in thy sight, As also in thy promise.

9Swallow up, O Lord, divide their tongue, For I saw violence and strife in a city.

10 Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof; and iniquity and mischief are in the midst of it.

10Then shall my enemies be turned back. In what day soever I shall call upon thee, behold I know thou art my God.

10By day and by night they go round it, on its walls. Both iniquity and perverseness <FI>are<Fi> in its midst,

11 Perversities are in the midst thereof; and oppression and deceit depart not from its streets.

11In God will I praise the word, in the Lord will I praise his speech. In God have I hoped, I will not fear what man can do to me.

11Mischiefs <FI>are<Fi> in its midst. Fraud and deceit depart not from its street.

12 For 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;

12In me, O God, are vows to thee, which I will pay, praises to thee:

12For an enemy reproacheth me not, or I bear <FI>it<Fi> , He who is hating me Hath not magnified himself against me, Or I hide from him.

13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, mine intimate, my familiar friend. ...

13Because thou hast delivered my soul from death, my feet from falling: that I may please in the sight of God, in the light of the living.

13But thou, a man--as mine equal, My familiar friend, and mine acquaintance.

14 We who held sweet intercourse together. To the house ofGod we walked amid the throng.

14(not in this translation)

14When together we sweeten counsel, Into the house of God we walk in company.

15 Let death seize upon them, let them go down alive into Sheol. For wickedness is in their dwellings, in their midst.

15(not in this translation)

15Desolations <FI>are<Fi> upon them, They go down <FI>to<Fi> Sheol--alive, For wickedness <FI>is<Fi> in their dwelling, in their midst.

16 As for me, untoGod will I call; and Jehovah will save me.

16(not in this translation)

16I--to God I call, and Jehovah saveth me.

17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray and moan aloud; and he will hear my voice.

17(not in this translation)

17Evening, and morning, and noon, I meditate, and make a noise, and He heareth my voice,

18 He hath redeemed my soul in peace from the battle against me: for there were many about me.

18(not in this translation)

18He hath ransomed in peace my soul From him who is near to me, For with the multitude they were with me.

19 God will hear, and afflict them: he that is seated of old, (Selah) ...because there is no change in them, and they fear notGod.

19(not in this translation)

19God doth hear and afflict them, And He sitteth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, and fear not God,

20 He hath put forth his hands against such as are at peace with him; he hath profaned his covenant.

20(not in this translation)

20He hath sent forth his hands against his well-wishers, He hath polluted his covenant.

21 Smooth were the milky [words] of his mouth, but his heart was war; his words were softer than oil, yet are they drawn swords.

21(not in this translation)

21Sweeter than honey hath been his mouth, And his heart <FI>is<Fi> war! Softer have been his words than oil, And they <FI>are<Fi> drawn <FI>swords<Fi> .

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

22(not in this translation)

22Cast on Jehovah that which He hath given thee, And He doth sustain thee, He doth not suffer for ever the moving of the righteous.

23 And thou, OGod, 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.

23(not in this translation)

23And Thou, O God, dost bring them down To a pit of destruction, Men of blood and deceit reach not to half their days, And I--I do trust in Thee!