Psalms 55

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 [For the choirmaster For strings Poem Of David] God, hear my prayer, do not hide away from my plea,	1 For the leader. On stringed instruments. A maskil of David.
2 give me a hearing, answer me, my troubles give me no peace. I shudder	2 Listen, God, to my prayer; do not hide from my pleading;
3 at the enemy's shouts, at the outcry of the wicked; they heap up charges against me, in their angerbring hostile accusations against me.	3 hear me and give answer. I rock with grief; I groan
4 My heart writhes within me, the terrors of death come upon me,	4 at the uproar of the enemy, the clamor of the wicked. They heap trouble upon me, savagely accuse me.
5 fear and trembling overwhelm me, and shuddering grips me.	5 My heart pounds within me; death's terrors fall upon me.
6 And I say, 'Who will give me wings like a dove, to fly away and find rest?'	6 Fear and trembling overwhelm me; shuddering sweeps over me.
7 How far I would escape, and make a nest in the desert!Pause	7 I say, "If only I had wings like a dove that I might fly away and find rest.
8 I would soon find a refuge from the storm of abuse, from the	8 Far away I would flee; I would stay in the desert. Selah
9 destructive tempest, Lord, from the flood of their tongues. For I see violence and strife in the city,	9 I would soon find a shelter from the raging wind and storm."
10 day and night they make their rounds along the city wal s, Inside live malice and mischief,	10 Lord, check and confuse their scheming. I see violence and strife in the city
11 inside lives destruction, tyranny and treachery never absent from its central square.	11 making rounds on its walls day and night. Within are mischief and evil;
12 Were it an enemy who insulted me, that I could bear; if an opponent pitted himself against me, I couldturn away from him.	12 treachery is there as well; oppression and fraud never leave its streets.
13 But you, a person of my own rank, a comrade and dear friend,	13 If an enemy had reviled me, that I could bear; If my foe had viewed me with contempt, from that I could hide.
14 to whom I was bound by intimate friendship in the house of God! May they recoil in disorder,	14 But it was you, my other self, my comrade and friend,
15 may death descend on them, may they go down alive to Sheol, since evil shares their home withthem.	15 You, whose company I enjoyed, at whose side I walked in procession in the house of God.
16 For my part, I appeal to God, and Yahweh saves me;	16 Let death take them by surprise; let them go down alive to Sheol, for evil is in their homes and hearts.
17 evening, morning, noon, I complain and I groan. He hears my cry,	17 But I will call upon God, and the LORD will save me.
18 he ransoms me and gives me peace from the feud against me, for they are taking me to law.	18 At dusk, dawn, and noon I will grieve and complain, and my prayer will be heard.
19 But God wil listen and wil humble them, he who has been enthroned from the beginning; no changeof heart for them, for they do not fear God.	19 God will give me freedom and peace from those who war against me, though there are many who oppose me.
20 They attack those at peace with them, going back on their oaths;	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 though their mouth is smoother than butter, enmity is in their hearts; their words more soothing thanoil, yet sharpened like swords.	21 They strike out at friends and go back on their promises.
22 Unload your burden onto Yahweh and he wil sustain you; never wil he allow the upright to stumble.	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 You, God, wil thrust them down to the abyss of destruction, men bloodthirsty and deceptive, beforehalf their days are spent. For my part, I put my trust in you.	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.