55:1 Give ear to my prayer, O God; And hide not thyself from my supplication.
55:1 {For the choir director; on stringed instruments. A Maskil of David.} Give ear to my prayer, O God; And do not hide Thyself from my supplication.

55:2 Attend unto me, and answer me: I am restless in my complaint, and moan,
55:2 Give heed to me, and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and am surely distracted,

55:3 Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked; For they cast iniquity upon me, And in anger they persecute me.
55:3 Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the pressure of the wicked; For they bring down trouble upon me, And in anger they bear a grudge against me.

55:4 My heart is sore pained within me: And the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
55:4 My heart is in anguish within me, And the terrors of death have fallen upon me.

55:5 Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, And horror hath overwhelmed me.
55:5 Fear and trembling come upon me; And horror has overwhelmed me.

55:6 And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then would I fly away, and be at rest.
55:6 And I said, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.

55:7 Lo, then would I wander far off, I would lodge in the wilderness. (Selah)
55:7 "Behold, I would wander far away, I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah.

55:8 I would haste me to a shelter From the stormy wind and tempest.
55:8 "I would hasten to my place of refuge From the stormy wind [and] tempest."

55:9 Destroy, O Lord, (and) divide their tongue; For I have seen violence and strife in the city.
55:9 Confuse, O Lord, divide their tongues, For I have seen violence and strife in the city.

55:10 Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: Iniquity also and mischief are in the midst of it.
55:10 Day and night they go around her upon her walls; And iniquity and mischief are in her midst.

55:11 Wickedness is in the midst thereof: Oppression and guile depart not from its streets.
55:11 Destruction is in her midst; Oppression and deceit do not depart from her streets.

55:12 For it was not an enemy that reproached me; Then I could have borne it: Neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; Then I would have hid myself from him:
55:12 For it is not an enemy who reproaches me, Then I could bear [it]; Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me, Then I could hide myself from him.

55:13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, My companion, and my familiar friend.
55:13 But it is you, a man my equal, My companion and my familiar friend.

55:14 We took sweet counsel together; We walked in the house of God with the throng.
55:14 We who had sweet fellowship together, Walked in the house of God in the throng.

55:15 Let death come suddenly upon them, Let them go down alive into Sheol; For wickedness is in their dwelling, in the midst of them.
55:15 Let death come deceitfully upon them; Let them go down alive to Sheol, For evil is in their dwelling, in their midst.

55:16 As for me, I will call upon God; And Jehovah will save me.
55:16 As for me, I shall call upon God, And the LORD will save me.

55:17 Evening, and morning, and at noonday, will I complain, and moan; And he will hear my voice.
55:17 Evening and morning and at noon, I will complain and murmur, And He will hear my voice.

55:18 He hath redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me; For they were many (that strove) with me.
55:18 He will redeem my soul in peace from the battle [which is] against me, For they are many [who strive] with me.

55:19 God will hear, and answer them, Even he that abideth of old, (Selah) (The men) who have no changes, And who fear not God.
55:19 God will hear and answer them-- Even the one who sits enthroned from of old-- Selah. With whom there is no change, And who do not fear God.

55:20 He hath put forth his hands against such as were at peace with him: He hath profaned his covenant.
55:20 He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him; He has violated his covenant.

55:21 His mouth was smooth as butter, But his heart was war: His words were softer than oil, Yet were they drawn swords.
55:21 His speech was smoother than butter, But his heart was war; His words were softer than oil, Yet they were drawn swords.

55:22 Cast thy burden upon Jehovah, and he will sustain thee: He will never suffer the righteous to be moved.
55:22 Cast your burden upon the LORD, and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

55:23 But thou, O God, wilt bring them down into the pit of destruction: Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; But I will trust in thee.
55:23 But Thou, O God, wilt bring them down to the pit of destruction; Men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in Thee.