PsalmsChapter 55

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¹For the music leader. With stringed instruments. A maskil of David.
God, listen to my prayer.
Do not ignore my cry for help. ²Pay attention to me and answer me.
I can't rest as I tell you my trouble.
I am so upset ³because of the voice of the enemy,
because the wicked press hard on me.
They bring trouble down on me.
They are angry and hold a grudge against me. ⁴My heart pounds inside me.
The terrors of death attack me. ⁵Fear and shaking take hold of me.
Horror has swept over me. ⁶I said, "Oh, I wish I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and find rest. ⁷I would run far away!
I would stay in the wilderness. Selah ⁸I would hurry to my hiding place,
far from this wild storm." ⁹Lord, mix up their words and confuse them.
For I see violence and fighting in the city. ¹⁰Day and night they go around on its walls.
Evil and trouble are inside it. ¹¹Ruin is inside the city.
Cruelty and lies never leave its streets. ¹²For it is not an enemy who insults me.
I could put up with that.
It is not someone who hates me who rises against me.
I could hide from him. ¹³But it is you, a man like me,
my partner and close friend. ¹⁴We used to share sweet friendship.
We walked with the crowd into the house of God. ¹⁵Let death grab them by surprise.
Let them go down to the grave alive,
for evil lives with them in their homes.a ¹⁶But I call to God,
and the LORD saves me. ¹⁷Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my trouble.
And he hears my voice. ¹⁸He redeems my soul and keeps it in peace
from the battle against me,
even though many fight against me. ¹⁹God, who has ruled from his throne forever,
will hear and bring them low. Selah
This is because they never change.
They have no fear of God. ²⁰My friend attacks his own friends.
He breaks his covenant. ²¹His talk is smooth like butter,
but war is in his heart.
His words are softer than oil,
but they are swords pulled out to strike. ²²Throw your heavy load on the LORD, and he will hold you up.
He will never let those who do right be shaken. ²³But you, God, will bring them down to the Pit where they will be destroyed.
Men who kill and lie will not live out half their days.
But I will trust in you.