Psalms 55 / 150
- 1Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea;
- 2hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught
- 3at the voice of the enemy, at the stares of the wicked; for they bring down suffering upon me and revile me in their anger.
- 4My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death assail me.
- 5Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me.
- 6I said, "Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest-
- 7I would flee far away and stay in the desert; Selah
- 8I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm."
- 9Confuse the wicked, O Lord, confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city.
- 10Day and night they prowl about on its walls; malice and abuse are within it.
- 11Destructive forces are at work in the city; threats and lies never leave its streets.
- 12If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were raising himself against me, I could hide from him.
- 13But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend,
- 14with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship as we walked with the throng at the house of God.
- 15Let death take my enemies by surprise; let them go down alive to the grave, for evil finds lodging among them.
- 16But I call to God, and the LORD saves me.
- 17Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice.
- 18He ransoms me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me.
- 19God, who is enthroned forever, will hear them and afflict them- Selah men who never change their ways and have no fear of God.
- 20My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.
- 21His speech is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords.
- 22Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.
- 23But you, O God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of corruption; bloodthirsty and deceitful men will not live out half their days. But as for me, I trust in you.