Psalms 55

1 For the chief musician; on stringed instruments. A maschil of David. Give ear to my prayer, God; and do not hide yourself from my plea.⋮

2 Pay attention to me and answer me; I have no rest in my troubles⋮

3 because of the voice of my enemies, because of the oppression of the wicked; for they bring trouble on me and persecute me in anger.⋮

4 My heart trembles within me, and the terrors of death have fallen on me.⋮

5 Fearfulness and trembling have come on me, and horror has overwhelmed me.⋮

6 I said, “Oh, if only I had wings like a dove! Then would I fly away and be at rest.⋮

7 See, then I would wander far away; I would stay in the wilderness. Selah⋮

8 I would hurry to a shelter from the stormy wind and tempest.”⋮

9 Devour them, Lord, confuse their language! For I have seen violence and strife in the city.⋮

10 Day and night they go about on its walls; iniquity and mischief are in the middle of it.⋮

11 Wickedness is in the middle of it; oppression and deceit do not leave its streets.⋮

12 For it was not an enemy who rebuked me, then I could have borne it; neither was it he who hated me who raised himself up against me, then I would have hidden myself from him.⋮

13 But it was you, a man equal to myself, my companion and my close friend.⋮

14 We had sweet fellowship together; we walked in the house of God with the throng.⋮

15 Let death come suddenly on them; let them go down alive to Sheol, for wickedness is where they live, right among them.⋮

16 As for me, I will call on God, and Yahweh will save me.⋮

17 In the evening, morning and at noonday I complain and moan; he will hear my voice.⋮

18 He will safely rescue my life from the battle that was against me, for those who fought against me were many.⋮

19 God, the one who rules from eternity, will hear them and humiliate them. Selah They never change, and they do not fear God.⋮

20 My friend has raised his hands against those who were at peace with him; he has not respected the covenant that he had.⋮

21 His mouth was smooth as butter, but his heart was hostile; his words were softer than oil, yet they were actually drawn swords.⋮

22 Place your burdens on Yahweh, and he will sustain you; he will never allow a righteous person to totter.⋮

23 But you, God, will bring the wicked down into the pit of destruction; bloodthirsty and deceitful men will not live even half as long as others, but I will trust in you.⋮