Psalms
Psalms 55
For the end, among hymns. For understanding, by David.
1 Listen to my prayer, God, and do not overlook my plea.
2 Pay attention to me and listen. I was grieved in my pondering and troubled
3 by my enemy’s voice and a sinner’s oppression, because they turned lawlessness against me and bore a grudge against me in anger.
4 My heart was troubled within me, and the fear of death fell upon me.
5 Fear and trembling came upon me, and darkness covered me.
6 I said, “Who will give me wings like a dove’s? I would fly away and rest.”
7 Look, I fled far away and lodged in the wilderness. Pause.
8 I waited for the one who saves me from faintheartedness and storm.
9 Drown them, Lord, and divide their tongues, because I saw lawlessness and strife in the city.
10 Day and night lawlessness circles her on her walls; trouble and injustice are within her.
11 Interest and deceit never leave her streets.
12 If an enemy had reproached me, I would have endured it. If one who hated me had boasted against me, I would have hidden from him.
13 But it was you, a man like-minded with me, my leader and acquaintance,
14 who made our food sweet when we were together. We walked in God’s house in harmony.
15 Let death come upon them; let them descend alive into Hades, because evil is in their dwellings, within them.
16 But I cried out to God, and the Lord listened to me.
17 Evening, morning, and noon I will recount and proclaim, and he will listen to my voice.
18 He will ransom my soul in peace from those who approach me, because many were with me.
19 God, the one who exists before eternity, will listen and humble them. Pause. They experience no change, and they did not fear God.
20 He reached out his hand in repayment; they treated his covenant as common.
21 They were scattered by the anger of his face, though his heart drew near them. His words were softer than oil, but they are arrows.
22 Cast your concern upon the Lord, and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.
23 But you, God, will bring them down into a pit of decay. Violent and deceitful men will not live out half their days, but I will trust in you, Lord.