Psalm 55:11–13

11 Destructive forces are at work in the city;

threats and lies never leave its streets.

12 If an enemy were insulting me,

I could endure it;

if a foe were rising against me,

I could hide.

13 But it is you, a man like myself,

my companion, my close friend,

11 ruin is in its midst;

oppression and fraud

do not depart from its marketplace.

12 For it is not an enemy who taunts me—

then I could bear it;

it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me—

then I could hide from him.

13 But it is you, a man, my equal,

my companion, my familiar friend.

11 Wickedness is in the midst thereof:

Deceit and guile depart not from her streets.

12 For 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:

13 But it was thou, a man mine equal,

My guide, and mine acquaintance.

11 Everything is falling apart;

threats and cheating are rampant in the streets.

12 It is not an enemy who taunts me—

I could bear that.

It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me—

I could have hidden from them.

13 Instead, it is you—my equal,

my companion and close friend.

11 Destruction is in its midst;

Oppression and deceit do not depart from its streets.

12 For it is not an enemy who reproaches me;

Then I could bear it.

Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me;

Then I could hide from him.

13 But it was you, a man my equal,

My companion and my acquaintance.

11 Destruction is everywhere in the city;

trouble and lying never leave its streets.

12 It was not an enemy insulting me.

I could stand that.

It was not someone who hated me.

I could hide from him.

13 But it is you, a person like me,

my companion and good friend.

11 Wickedness is in the midst thereof:

Oppression and guile depart not from its streets.

12 For 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:

13 But it was thou, a man mine equal,

My companion, and my familiar friend.

11 Perversities are in the midst thereof; and oppression and deceit depart not from its streets. 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; 13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, mine intimate, my familiar friend. …

11 Destruction is everywhere. 

Oppression and fraud never leave the streets.

12 If an enemy had insulted me, 

then I could bear it. 

If someone who hated me had attacked me, 

then I could hide from him. 

13 But it is you, my equal, 

my best friend, 

one I knew so well! 

11 ruin is in its midst;

oppression and fraud

do not depart from its marketplace.

12 It is not enemies who taunt me—

I could bear that;

it is not adversaries who deal insolently with me—

I could hide from them.

13 But it is you, my equal,

my companion, my familiar friend,

11 Destruction is within it,

and oppression and deceit

do not depart from its public square.

12 For it is not an enemy that taunts me,

or I could bear it.

It is not one who hates me that magnifies himself over me,

or I could hide myself from him.

13 But it is you, a man my equal,

my friend and confidant.

11 Forces that destroy are at work inside it.

Its streets are full of people who cheat others and take advantage of them.

12 If an enemy were making fun of me,

I could stand it.

If he were looking down on me,

I could hide from him.

13 But it’s you, someone like myself.

It’s my companion, my close friend.

11 Destruction is in her midst;

Oppression and deceit do not depart from her streets.

12 For it is not an enemy who reproaches me,

Then I could bear it;

Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me,

Then I could hide myself from him.

13 But it is you, a man my equal,

My companion and my familiar friend;