Psalm 55

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Psalm 55 – New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 55[a]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil[b] of David.

  1. Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea;
  2. hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught
  3. because of what my enemy is saying, because of the threats of the wicked; for they bring down suffering on me and assail me in their anger.
  4. My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen on me.
  5. Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me.
  6. I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.
  7. I would flee far away and stay in the desert;[c]
  8. I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.”
  9. Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words, for I see violence and strife in the city.
  10. Day and night they prowl about on its walls; malice and abuse are within it.
  11. Destructive forces are at work in the city; threats and lies never leave its streets.
  12. If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were rising against me, I could hide.
  13. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend,
  14. with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship at the house of God, as we walked about among the worshipers.
  15. Let death take my enemies by surprise; let them go down alive to the realm of the dead, for evil finds lodging among them.
  16. As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me.
  17. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice.
  18. He rescues me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me.
  19. God, who is enthroned from of old, who does not change— he will hear them and humble them, because they have no fear of God.
  20. My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.
  21. His talk is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords.
  22. Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.
  23. But you, God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of decay; the bloodthirsty and deceitful will not live out half their days. But as for me, I trust in you.

Footnotes

a. Psalm 55:1 In Hebrew texts 55:1-23 is numbered 55:2-24.
b. Psalm 55:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
c. Psalm 55:7 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and in the middle of verse 19.

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Psalm 55 – King James Version (KJV)

To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David.

  1. Give ear to my prayer, O God; And hide not thyself from my supplication.
  2. Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;
  3. Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked: For they cast iniquity upon me, And in wrath they hate me.
  4. My heart is sore pained within me: And the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
  5. Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, And horror hath overwhelmed me.
  6. And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! For then would I fly away, and be at rest.
  7. Lo, then would I 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 tongues: For I have seen violence and strife in the city.
  10. Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: Mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.
  11. Wickedness is in the midst thereof:Deceit and guile depart not from her streets. 
  12. For it was not an enemy that reproached me; Then I could have born it: Neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; Then I would have hid myself from him:
  13. But it was thou, a man mine equal, My guide, and mine acquaintance.
  14. We took sweet counsel together, And walked unto the house of God in company.
  15. Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: 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. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: And he shall hear my voice.
  18. He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: For there were many with me.
  19. God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.
  20. He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: He hath broken his covenant.
  21. The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: His words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.
  22. Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
  23. But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: Bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; But I will trust in thee.