Psalm 55:title–23

Betrayal by a Friend

For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A Davidic Maskil.

¹God, listen to my prayer

and do not ignore ^wmy plea for help. ^x

²Pay attention to me and answer me. ^y

I am restless and in turmoil with my complaint, ^z

³because of the enemy’s voice,

because of the pressure ^aof the wicked.

For they bring down disaster on me ^b

and harass me in anger. ^c

⁴My heart shudders within me; ^d

terrors of death sweep over me.

⁵Fear and trembling grip me;

horror has overwhelmed me. ^e

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

I would fly away and find rest. ^g

⁷How far away I would flee;

I would stay in the wilderness. ^hSelah

⁸I would hurry to my shelter

from the raging wind and the storm.” ⁱ

⁹Lord, confuse ^jand confound their speech, ^kl

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; ^m

¹¹destruction is inside it;

oppression and deceit never leave its marketplace. ⁿ

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! ^o

¹⁴We used to have close fellowship;

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

¹⁵Let death take them by surprise; ^q

let them go down to Sheol alive,

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

¹⁶But I call to God,

and the Lord will save me. ^s

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

and He hears my voice. ^u

¹⁸Though many are against me,

He will redeem me from my battle unharmed. ^v

¹⁹God, the One enthroned from long ago, ^w

will hear and will humiliate them Selah

because they do not change

and do not fear God. ^x

²⁰My friend ^yacts violently

against those at peace with him; ^z

he violates his covenant. ^a

²¹His buttery words are smooth, ^b

but war is in his heart.

His words are softer than oil,

but they are drawn swords. ^c

²²Cast your burden on the Lord,

and He will sustain you; ^d

He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. ^e

²³God, You will bring them down

to the Pit of destruction; ^f

men of bloodshed and treachery

will not live out half their days. ^g

But I will trust in You. ^h