Psalm 55

Psalm 55

BETRAYAL BY A FRIEND

For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David.

¹God, listen to my prayer

and do not hide from my plea for help.^l

²Pay attention to me and answer me.^m

I am restless and in turmoil with my complaint,ⁿ

³because of the enemy’s words,^C

because of the pressure^D of the wicked.

For they bring down disaster on me

and harass me in anger.^o

⁴My heart shudders within me;^p

terrors of death sweep over me.

⁵Fear and trembling grip me;

horror has overwhelmed me.^q

⁶I said, “If only I had wings like a dove!

I would fly away and find rest.^r

⁷How far away I would flee;

I would stay in the wilderness.^s

Selah

⁸I would hurry to my shelter

from the raging wind and the storm.”^t

⁹Lord, confuse^E and confound their speech,^Fu

for I see violence and strife in the city;

¹⁰day and night they make the rounds on its walls.

Crime and trouble are within it;^v

¹¹destruction is inside it;

oppression and deceit never leave its marketplace.^w

¹²Now it is not an enemy who insults me—

otherwise I could bear it;

it is not a foe who rises up against me—

otherwise I could hide from him.

¹³But it is you, a man who is my peer,

my companion and good friend!^x

¹⁴We used to have close fellowship;

we walked with the crowd into the house of God.^y

¹⁵Let death take them by surprise;^z

let them go down to Sheol alive,

because evil is in their homes and within them.^aa

¹⁶But I call to God,

and the Lord will save me.^ab

¹⁷I complain and groan morning, noon, and night,^ac

and he hears my voice.^ad

¹⁸Though many are against me,

he will redeem me from my battle unharmed.^ae

¹⁹God, the one enthroned from long ago,^af

will hear and will humiliate them

Selah

because they do not change

and do not fear God.^a

²⁰My friend^b acts violently

against those at peace with him;^c

he violates his covenant.^d

²¹His buttery words are smooth,

but war is in his heart.

His words are softer than oil,

but they are drawn swords.^e

²²Cast your burden on the Lord,

and he will sustain you;^f

he will never allow the righteous to be shaken.^g

²³God, you will bring them down

to the Pit of destruction;^h

men of bloodshed and treachery

will not live out half their days.ⁱ

But I will trust in you.^j