PSALM 55

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David.

1 Give ear to my prayer, O God;

and hide not thyself from my supplication!

2 Attend to me, and answer me;

I am overcome by my trouble.

I am distraught 3 by the noise of the enemy,

because of the oppression of the wicked.

For they bringi trouble upon me,

and in anger they cherish enmity against me.

4 My heart is in anguish within me,

the terrors of death have fallen upon me.

5 Fear and trembling come upon me,

and horror overwhelms me.

6 And I say, “O that I had wings like a dove!

I would fly away and be at rest;

7 yea, I would wander afar,

I would lodge in the wilderness, [Selah]

8 I would haste to find me a shelter

from the raging wind and tempest.”

9 Destroy their plans,j O Lord, confuse their tongues;

for I see violence and strife in the city.

10 Day and night they go around it

on its walls;

and mischief and trouble are within it,

11 ruin is in its midst;

oppression and fraud

do not depart from its market place.

12 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, my equal,

my companion, my familiar friend.

14 We used to hold sweet converse together;

within God’s house we walked in fellowship.

15 Let deathk come upon them;

let them go down to Sheol alive;

let them go away in terror into their graves.l

16 But I call upon God;

and the Lord will save me.

17 Evening and morning and at noon

I utter my complaint and moan,

and he will hear my voice.

18 He will deliver my soul in safety

from the battle that I wage,

for many are arrayed against me.

19 God will give ear, and humble them,

he who is enthroned from of old;

because they keep no law,m

and do not fear God. [Selah]

20 My companion stretched out his hand against his friends,

he violated his covenant.

21 His speech was smoother than butter,

yet war was in his heart;

his words were softer than oil,

yet they were drawn swords.

22 Cast your burden* on the Lord,

and he will sustain you;

he will never permit

the righteous to be moved.

23 But thou, O God, wilt cast them down

into the lowest pit;

men of blood and treachery

shall not live out half their days.

But I will trust in thee.