Psalms 55

55 ¹ Hear my prayer, my Father, and do not hide yourself from my plea for mercy. ² Listen to me and answer me; I am restless in my complaint, and I moan, ³ because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they bring trouble down upon me, and in anger they bear a grudge against me. ⁴ My heart writhes within me; the terrors of death have fallen upon me. ⁵ Fear and trembling come over me, and horror has overwhelmed me. ⁶ And I said, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.

⁷ Yes, I would wander far away; I would shelter in the wilderness. Selah ^a a v7 Selah: a musical or liturgical term of uncertain meaning, likely a pause for reflection or a musical interlude. ⁸ I would hurry to my place of shelter, away from the raging wind and the storm." ⁹ Confuse them, Sovereign Father; divide their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city. ¹⁰ Day and night they prowl its walls; wickedness and trouble are within it. ¹¹ Ruin is in its midst; oppression and deceit never leave its streets. ¹² For it is not an enemy who taunts me—that I could bear; it is not one who hates me who exalts himself over me—from him I could hide. ¹³ But it is you, a man my equal, my companion and my close friend. ¹⁴ We who shared sweet fellowship together, who walked with the crowd to our Father's house— ¹⁵ Let death come upon them; let them go down to the grave alive, for evil is in their dwelling, in their very midst. ^b b v15 Sheol: the Hebrew name for the realm of the dead, pictured as a shadowy place beneath the earth. ¹⁶ But I call to my Father, and my Father will save me. ¹⁷ Evening and morning and at noon I cry out and moan, and he hears my voice. ¹⁸ He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle waged against me, though many were set against me.

¹⁹ Our Father will hear and humble them—he who is enthroned from ancient times. Selah Because they never change, they have no fear of our Father. ²⁰ He has raised his hands against those at peace with him; he has violated his covenant. ²¹ His speech was smoother than butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords. ²² Cast your burden on our Father, and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. ²³ But you, my Father, will bring them down to the pit of destruction; men of bloodshed and treachery will not live out half their days. But I will trust in you.