Psalm 55

1 For the one directing. With stringed instruments. A Maskil of David. <span class=|reftext|><a href=|#|><b>1</b></a> Turn your ear, O God, to my prayer, and do not hide Yourself from my supplication.

2 Be attentive to me, and answer me; [for] I am restless in my complaint, and make a noise,

3 from the voice of the enemy, from the face of the oppression of the wicked. For they bring down trouble upon me, and in anger they hate me.

4 My heart is writhing within me, and the terrors of death have fallen upon me.

5 Fear and trembling have come upon me, and shuddering has covered me.

6 And I said, “Who shall give to me a wing like a dove, [that] I might fly away and be at rest—

7 behold, I would go far off wandering [and] would lodge in the wilderness. Selah

8 I would hurry to shelter for myself, from the rushing wind, from the tempest.”

9 Swallow up, O Lord, divide their tongues! For I have seen violence and strife in the city.

10 Day and night they go around it, on its walls, and iniquity and trouble [are] within it.

11 Disasters [are] within it, and oppression and deceit do not depart from its streets.

12 For [it is] not an enemy [who] scorns me, or I could bear it; and not one hating me [who] wielded power against me, or I could hide myself from him.

13 And [it was] you, a man like me in rank, my companion, and one known by me,

14 [with] whom we would take sweet counsel together; in the house of God we walked with the throng.

15 Devastation [is] upon them! May they go down alive [to] Sheol! For evils [are] in their dwellings, within them.

16 I will call to God, and YHWH will save me.

17 Evening and morning and noon I meditate and cry aloud, and He hears my voice.

18 In peace He has redeemed my soul from the battle against me, though there were many against me.

19 God will hear and afflict them—even He who sits of old—Selah with whom there are no changes for Him. And they have not fear God.

20 He has stretched out his hands against those united with him; he has profaned his covenant.

21 His mouth has been smoother than butter, and war [is] in his heart; his words have been softer than oil, and they [are] drawn swords.

22 Cast your burden upon YHWH, and He will sustain you; He will not give a righteous one to be shaken forever.

23 And You, O God, will bring them down to the Pit of destruction, men of blood and deceit! They will not live even half their days. And I will trust in You.