55:1 To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication!
55:1 To the leader: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God; do not hide yourself from my supplication.

55:2 Attend to me, and answer me; I am overcome by my trouble. I am distraught
55:2 Attend to me, and answer me; I am troubled in my complaint. I am distraught

55:3 by the noise of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they bring trouble upon me, and in anger they cherish enmity against me.
55:3 by the noise of the enemy, because of the clamor of the wicked. For they bring trouble upon me, and in anger they cherish enmity against me.

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

55:5 Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me.
55:5 Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me.

55:6 And I say, "O that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest;
55:6 And I say, "O that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest;

55:7 yea, I would wander afar, I would lodge in the wilderness, [Selah]
55:7 Truly, I would flee far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah

55:8 I would haste to find me a shelter from the raging wind and tempest."
55:8 I would hurry to find a shelter for myself from the raging wind and tempest."

55:9 Destroy their plans, O Lord, confuse their tongues; for I see violence and strife in the city.
55:9 Confuse, O Lord, confound their speech; for I see violence and strife in the city.

55:10 Day and night they go around it on its walls; and mischief and trouble are within it,
55:10 Day and night they go around it on its walls, and iniquity and trouble are within it;

55:11 ruin is in its midst; oppression and fraud do not depart from its market place.
55:11 ruin is in its midst; oppression and fraud do not depart from its marketplace.

55:12 It is not an enemy who taunts me -- then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me -- then I could hide from him.
55:12 It is not enemies who taunt me--I could bear that; it is not adversaries who deal insolently with me--I could hide from them.

55:13 But it is you, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend.
55:13 But it is you, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend,

55:14 We used to hold sweet converse together; within God's house we walked in fellowship.
55:14 with whom I kept pleasant company; we walked in the house of God with the throng.

55:15 Let death come upon them; let them go down to Sheol alive; let them go away in terror into their graves.
55:15 Let death come upon them; let them go down alive to Sheol; for evil is in their homes and in their hearts.

55:16 But I call upon God; and the LORD will save me.
55:16 But I call upon God, and the LORD will save me.

55:17 Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he will hear my voice.
55:17 Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he will hear my voice.

55:18 He will deliver my soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against me.
55:18 He will redeem me unharmed from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against me.

55:19 God will give ear, and humble them, he who is enthroned from of old; because they keep no law, and do not fear God. [Selah]
55:19 God, who is enthroned from of old, Selah will hear, and will humble them--because they do not change, and do not fear God.

55:20 My companion stretched out his hand against his friends, he violated his covenant.
55:20 My companion laid hands on a friend and violated a covenant with me

55:21 His speech was smoother than butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.
55:21 with speech smoother than butter, but with a heart set on war; with words that were softer than oil, but in fact were drawn swords.

55:22 Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.
55:22 Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

55:23 But thou, O God, wilt cast them down into the lowest pit; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in thee.
55:23 But you, O God, will cast them down into the lowest pit; the bloodthirsty and treacherous shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in you.