1 Pay attention to my prayer, God, and do not hide yourself from my appeal. ISV — Psalm 55:1
2 Pay attention to me and answer me. I moan and groan in my thoughts, ISV — Psalm 55:2
3 because of the voice of the enemy, and because of the oppression of the wicked. They bring down evil upon me, and in anger they hate me. ISV — Psalm 55:3
4 My heart is trembling within me, and the terrors of death have assaulted me. ISV — Psalm 55:4
5 Fear and trembling have overwhelmed me, and horror has covered me. ISV — Psalm 55:5
6 I said, “O, who will give me the wings of a dove, so that I could fly away and live somewhere else? ISV — Psalm 55:6
7 Look, I want to flee far away; I want to settle down in the wilderness. Interlude ISV — Psalm 55:7
8 I want to deliver myself quickly from this windstorm and tempest.” ISV — Psalm 55:8
9 Confound them, Lord, and confuse their speech, because I have seen violence and strife in the city. ISV — Psalm 55:9
10 Day and night they prowl around its walls; evil and iniquity are within it. ISV — Psalm 55:10
11 Wickedness is at the center of it; fraud and lies never leave its streets. ISV — Psalm 55:11
12 For it is not an enemy who insults me— I could have handled that— nor is it someone who hates me and who now arises against me— I could have hidden myself from him— ISV — Psalm 55:12
13 but it is you— a man whom I treated as my equal— my personal confidant, my close friend! ISV — Psalm 55:13
14 We had good fellowship together; and we even walked together in the house of God! ISV — Psalm 55:14
15 Let death seize them! May they be plunged alive into the afterlife, b55:15 Lit. into Sheol; a reference to the realm of the dead for wicked things are in their homes and among them. ISV — Psalm 55:15
16 I call upon God, and the LORD will deliver me. ISV — Psalm 55:16
17 Morning, noon, and night, I mulled over these things and cried out in my distress, and he heard my voice. ISV — Psalm 55:17
18 He calmly ransomed my soul from the war waged against me, for there was a vast crowd who stood against me. ISV — Psalm 55:18
19 God, who is enthroned from long ago, will hear me and humble them. Interlude Because they do not repent, they do not fear God. ISV — Psalm 55:19
20 Each of my friends c55:20 Lit. Each one raises his hand against his allies; each of my friends d55:20 Lit. Each one breaks his word. e55:20 Lit. covenant ISV — Psalm 55:20
21 His mouth is as smooth as butter, while war is in his heart. His words were as smooth as olive oil, while his sword is drawn. ISV — Psalm 55:21
22 Cast on the LORD whatever he sends your way, and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. ISV — Psalm 55:22
23 But you, God, bring them down to the Pit of corruption; f55:23 i.e. the place of punishment in the afterlife bloodthirsty and deceitful people will not live out half their days. But I put my full confidence in you. ISV — Psalm 55:23