Psalms 55:1-23

  • A prayer when betrayed by a friend

    • Taunted by a close friend (12-14)

    • “Throw your burden on Jehovah” (22)

To the director; to be accompanied with stringed instruments. Masʹkil.* Of David. 55  Listen to my prayer, O God,+And do not ignore my request for mercy.*+  2  Do pay attention to me and answer me.+ My concern makes me restless,+And I am distraught  3  Because of what the enemy is sayingAnd the pressure from the wicked one. For they heap trouble upon me,And in anger they harbor animosity against me.+  4  My heart is in anguish within me,+And the terrors of death overwhelm me.+  5  Fear and trembling come upon me,And shuddering grips me.  6  I keep saying: “If only I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and reside in safety.  7  Look! I would flee far away.+ I would lodge in the wilderness.+ (Selah)  8  I would hurry to a place of shelterAway from the raging wind, away from the storm.”  9  Confuse them, O Jehovah, and frustrate their plans,*+For I have seen violence and conflict in the city. 10  Day and night they walk around on its walls;Within it are malice and trouble.+ 11  Ruin is in its midst;Oppression and deception never depart from its public square.+ 12  For it is not an enemy who taunts me;+Otherwise I could put up with it. It is not a foe who has risen up against me;Otherwise I could conceal myself from him. 13  But it is you, a man like me,*+My own companion whom I know well.+ 14  We used to enjoy a warm friendship together;Into the house of God we used to walk along with the multitude. 15  May destruction overtake them!+ Let them go down alive into the Grave;*For evil resides among them and within them. 16  As for me, I will call out to God,And Jehovah will save me.+ 17  Evening and morning and noontime, I am troubled and I groan,*+And he hears my voice.+ 18  He will rescue* me and give me* peace from those fighting against me,For multitudes come against me.+ 19  God will hear and respond to them,+The one who sits enthroned from of old.+ (Selah) They will refuse to change,Those who have not feared God.+ 20  He* attacked those at peace with him;+He violated his covenant.+ 21  His words are smoother than butter,+But conflict is in his heart. His words are softer than oil,But they are drawn swords.+ 22  Throw your burden on Jehovah,+And he will sustain you.+ Never will he allow the righteous one to fall.*+ 23  But you, O God, will bring them down to the deepest pit.+ Those bloodguilty and deceitful men will not live out half their days.+ But as for me, I will trust in you.

Footnotes

Or “And do not hide yourself when I pray for help.”
Lit., “divide their tongue.”
Or “a man, my equal.”
Or “Sheol,” that is, the common grave of mankind. See Glossary.
Or “I am boisterous.”
Lit., “redeem.”
Or “my soul.”
That is, the former friend mentioned in vss. 13 and 14.
Or “stagger; totter.”