Psalm 55

Trust in God Concerning the Treachery of Friends

To the Chief Musician. With 1Stringed Instruments. A 2Contemplation of David.

1 Give ear to my prayer, O God,

And do not hide Yourself from my supplication.

2 Attend to me, and hear me;

I aam 3restless in my complaint, and moan noisily,

3 Because of the voice of the enemy,

Because of the oppression of the wicked;

bFor they bring down trouble upon me,

And in wrath they hate me.

4 cMy heart is severely pained within me,

And the terrors of death have fallen upon me.

5 Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me,

And horror has overwhelmed me.

6 So I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove!

I would fly away and be at rest.

7 Indeed, I would wander far off,

And remain in the wilderness.

Selah

8 I would hasten my escape

From the windy storm and tempest.”

9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their 4tongues,

For I have seen dviolence and strife in the city.

10 Day and night they go around it on its walls;

eIniquity and trouble are also in the midst of it.

11 Destruction is in its midst;

fOppression and deceit do not depart from its streets.

12 gFor it is not an enemy who reproaches me;

Then I could bear it.

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

Then I could hide from him.

13 But it was you, a man my equal,

iMy companion and my acquaintance.

14 We took sweet counsel together,

And jwalked to the house of God in the throng.

15 Let death seize them;

Let them kgo down alive into 5hell,

For wickedness is in their dwellings and among them.

16 As for me, I will call upon God,

And the Lord shall save me.

17 lEvening and morning and at noon

I will pray, and cry aloud,

And He shall hear my voice.

18 He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me,

For mthere were many against me.

19 God will hear, and afflict them,

nEven He who abides from of old.

Selah

Because they do not change,

Therefore they do not fear God.

20 He has oput forth his hands against those who pwere at peace with him;

He has broken his 6covenant.

21 qThe words of his mouth were smoother than butter,

But war was in his heart;

His words were softer than oil,

Yet they were drawn swords.

22 rCast your burden on the Lord,

And sHe shall sustain you;

He shall never permit the righteous to be 7moved.

23 But You, O God, shall bring them down to the pit of destruction;

tBloodthirsty and deceitful men ushall not live out half their days;

But I will trust in You.