Psalms 55

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 For the leader. On stringed instruments. A maskil of David.	1 Unto the end. For the people who have become far removed from the Sacred. Of David, with the inscription of a title, when the Philistines held him in Gath.
2 Listen, God, to my prayer; do not hide from my pleading;	2 Have mercy on me, O God, because man has trampled over me. All day long, he has afflicted me by fighting against me.
3 hear me and give answer. I rock with grief; I groan	3 My enemies have trampled over me all day long. For those who make war against me are many.
4 at the uproar of the enemy, the clamor of the wicked. They heap trouble upon me, savagely accuse me.	4 From the height of the day, I will be afraid. But truly, I will hope in you.
5 My heart pounds within me; death's terrors fall upon me.	5 In God, I will praise my words. In God, I have put my trust. I will not fear what flesh can do to me.
6 Fear and trembling overwhelm me; shuddering sweeps over me.	6 All day long, they curse my words. All their intentions are for evil against me.
7 I say, "If only I had wings like a dove that I might fly away and find rest.	7 They will dwell and hide themselves. They will watch my heel, just as they waited for my soul;
8 Far away I would flee; I would stay in the desert. Selah	8 because of this, nothing will save them. In your anger, you will crush the people.
9 I would soon find a shelter from the raging wind and storm."	9 O God, I have announced my life to you. You have placed my tears in your sight, and even in your promise.
10 Lord, check and confuse their scheming. I see violence and strife in the city	10 Then my enemies will be turned back. On whatever day that I call upon you, behold, I know that you are my God.
11 making rounds on its walls day and night. Within are mischief and evil;	11 In God, I will praise the word. In the Lord, I will praise his speech. In God, I have hoped. I will not fear what man can do to me.
12 treachery is there as well; oppression and fraud never leave its streets.	12 My vows to you, O God, are in me. I will repay them. Praises be to you.
13 If an enemy had reviled me, that I could bear; If my foe had viewed me with contempt, from that I could hide.	13 For you have rescued my soul from death and my feet from slipping, so that I may be pleasing in the sight of God, in the light of the living.
14 But it was you, my other self, my comrade and friend,
15 You, whose company I enjoyed, at whose side I walked in procession in the house of God.
16 Let death take them by surprise; let them go down alive to Sheol, for evil is in their homes and hearts.
17 But I will call upon God, and the LORD will save me.
18 At dusk, dawn, and noon I will grieve and complain, and my prayer will be heard.
19 God will give me freedom and peace from those who war against me, though there are many who oppose me.
20 God, who sits enthroned forever, will hear me and humble them. For they will not mend their ways; they have no fear of God.
21 They strike out at friends and go back on their promises.
22 Softer than butter is their speech, but war is in their hearts. Smoother than oil are their words, but they are unsheathed swords.
23 Cast your care upon the LORD, who will give you support. God will never allow the righteous to stumble.
24 But you, God, will bring them down to the pit of destruction. These bloodthirsty liars will not live half their days, but I put my trust in you.