Psalms 55

Psalm 55¹

For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments; a well-written song² by David.

55:1 Listen, O God, to my prayer!

Do not ignore³ my appeal for mercy!

55:2 Pay attention to me and answer me!

I am so upset⁴ and distressed,⁵ I am beside myself,⁶

55:3 because of what the enemy says,⁷

and because of how the wicked⁸ pressure me,⁹

for they hurl trouble¹⁰ down upon me¹¹

and angrily attack me.

55:4 My heart beats violently¹² within me;

the horrors of death overcome me.¹³

55:5 Fear and panic overpower me;¹⁴

terror overwhelms¹⁵ me.

55:6 I say,¹⁶ “I wish I had wings like a dove!

I would fly away and settle in a safe place!

55:7 Look, I will escape to a distant place;

I will stay in the wilderness. (Selah)

55:8 I will hurry off to a place that is safe

from the strong wind¹⁷ and the gale.”

55:9 Confuse them,¹⁸ O Lord!

Frustrate their plans!¹⁹

For I see violence and conflict in the city.

55:10 Day and night they walk around on its walls,²⁰

while wickedness and destruction²¹ are within it.

55:11 Disaster is within it;

violence²² and deceit do not depart from its public square.

55:12 Indeed,²³ it is not an enemy who insults me,

or else I could bear it;

it is not one who hates me who arrogantly taunts me,²⁴

or else I could hide from him.

55:13 But it is you,²⁵ a man like me,²⁶

my close friend in whom I confided.²⁷

55:14 We would share personal thoughts with each other;²⁸

in God’s temple we would walk together among the crowd.

55:15 May death destroy them!²⁹

May they go down alive into Sheol!³⁰

For evil is in their dwelling place and in their midst.

55:16 As for me, I will call out to God,

and the Lord will deliver me.

55:17 During the evening, morning, and noontime

I will lament and moan,³¹

and he will hear³² me.³³

55:18 He will rescue³⁴ me and protect me from those who attack me,³⁵

even though³⁶ they greatly outnumber me.³⁷

55:19 God, the one who has reigned as king from long ago,

will hear and humiliate them.³⁸ (Selah)

They refuse to change,

and do not fear God.³⁹

55:20 He⁴⁰ attacks⁴¹ his friends;⁴²

he breaks his solemn promises to them.⁴³

55:21 His words are as smooth as butter,⁴⁴

but he harbors animosity in his heart.⁴⁵

His words seem softer than oil,

but they are really like sharp swords.⁴⁶

55:22 Throw your burden⁴⁷ upon the Lord,

and he will sustain you.⁴⁸

He will never allow the godly to be upended.⁴⁹

55:23 But you, O God, will bring them⁵⁰ down to the deep Pit.⁵¹

Violent and deceitful people⁵² will not live even half a normal lifespan.⁵³

But as for me, I trust in you.

Next Chapter