Psalms 55

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.

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

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

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

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.

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 pained within me, And terrors of death have fallen on me.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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:

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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> .

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

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.

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

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!

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.