1 Psalm 55 He Will Never Allow the Righteous to Be Shaken For the choir director. With stringed instruments. A 55:0Possibly Contemplative, Didactic, Skillful Psalm Maskil of David.Give ear to my prayer, O God;And do not hide Yourself from my supplication.
2 Give heed to me and answer me;I am restless in my complaint and 55:2Or I must moan am surely distracted,
3 Because of the voice of the enemy,Because of the pressure of the wicked;For they shake wickedness down upon meAnd in anger they bear a grudge against me.
4 ¶My heart is in anguish within me,And the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
5 Fear and trembling come upon me,And 55:5Lit shuddering horror has covered me.
6 I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove!I would fly away and 55:6Lit settle down be at rest.
7 “Behold, I would wander far away,I would lodge in the wilderness. 55:7Selah may mean Pause, Crescendo, Musical Interlude Selah.
8 “I would hasten to my place of refugeFrom the stormy windandtempest.”
9 ¶ 55:9Lit Swallow up Confuse, O Lord, divide their tongues,For I have seen violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they go around her upon her walls,And wickedness and mischief are in her midst.
11 Destruction is in her midst;Oppression and deceit do not depart from her 55:11Or plaza streets.
12 ¶For it is not an enemy who reproaches me,Then I could bearit;Nor is it one who hates me who has magnified himself against me,Then I could hide myself from him.
13 But it is you, a man 55:13Lit according to my valuation my equal,My close companion and my 55:13Or acquaintance familiar friend;
14 We who had sweet counsel togetherWalked in the house of God in the throng.
15 Let 55:15Or desolations be upon them death come deceitfully upon them;Let them go down alive to Sheol,For evil is in their dwelling, in their midst.
16 ¶As for me, I shall call upon God,And Yahweh will save me.
17 Evening and morning and at noon, I will bring my complaint and moan,And He will hear my voice.
18 He will redeem my soul in peace 55:18Or so that none may approach me from the battlewhich isagainst me,For they are manywho strivewith me.
19 God will hear and 55:19Or afflict answer them—Even the one who 55:19Or abides from sits enthroned from of old—Selah.Because they 55:19Lit are no changes do not change,And do not fear God.
20 55:20Lit He My companionhas put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him;He has 55:20Lit profaned violated his covenant.
21 His 55:21Lit mouth speech was smoother than butter,But his heart was war;His words were softer than oil,Yet they were drawn swords.
22 ¶Cast 55:22Or what He has given you your burden upon Yahweh and He will sustain you;He will never allow the righteous to 55:22Or totter be shaken.
23 But You, O God, will bring them down to the 55:23Or lowest pit pit of corruption;Men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days.But I will trust in You.