Psalm 55

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. InterludeISV — 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