Psalms 55

1For the leader; with instrumental music. A maskil of David.

2Give ear, O God, to my prayer;do not ignore my plea;

3pay heed to me and answer me.I am tossed about, complaining and moaning

4at the clamor of the enemy,because of the oppression of the wicked;for they bring evil upon meand furiously harass me.

5My heart is convulsed within me;terrors of death assail me.

6Fear and trembling invade me;I am clothed with horror.

7I said,“O that I had the wings of a dove!I would fly away and find rest;

8surely, I would flee far off;I would lodge in the wilderness; selah

9I would soon find me a refugefrom the sweeping wind,from the tempest.”

10O my Sovereign, confound their speech, confuse it!For I see lawlessness and strife in the city;

11day and night they make their rounds on its walls;evil and mischief are inside it.

12Malice is within it;fraud and deceit never leave its square.

13It is not an enemy who reviles me—I could bear that;it is not my foe who boasts against me—for then I could hide;

14but it is you, my equal,my companion, my friend;

15sweet was our fellowship;we walked together in God’s house.

16Let [God] incite death against them;may they go down alive into Sheol!For where they dwell,there evil is.

17As for me, I call to God; GOD will deliver me.

18Evening, morning, and noon,I complain and moan,and my voice is heard.

19[God] redeems me unharmedfrom the battle against me;it is as though many are on my side.

20God who has reigned from the first,who will have no successor,hears and humbles those who show no reverence. Selah.

21My companion caused harm to alliesand broke a pact—

22with talk smoother than butter,yet with a mind set on war;with words that were softer than oil,yet in fact were drawn swords.

23Cast your burden on GOD and you will be sustained;the righteous will never be allowed to collapse.

24For You, O God, will bring them down to the nethermost Pit—those treacherous murderers;they shall not live out half their days—but I trust in You.