Psalm 55

HCSB

Psalm 55

Betrayal by a Friend

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1} For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A Davidic Maskil.

God, listen to my prayer
and do not ignore^(a) my plea for help.^(A)

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Pay attention to me and answer me.^(B)
I am restless and in turmoil with my complaint,^(C)

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because of the enemy’s voice,
because of the pressure^(b) of the wicked.
For they bring down disaster on me^(c)
and harass me in anger.^(D)

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My heart shudders within me;^(E)
terrors of death sweep over me.

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Fear and trembling grip me;
horror has overwhelmed me.^(F)

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I said, “If only I had^(d) wings like a dove!
I would fly away and find rest.^(G)

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How far away I would flee;
I would stay in the wilderness.^(H)Selah

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I would hurry to my shelter
from the raging wind and the storm.”^(I)

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Lord, confuse^(e) and confound their speech,^(f)^(J)
for I see violence and strife in the city;

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day and night they make the rounds on its walls.
Crime and trouble are within it;^(K)

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destruction is inside it;
oppression and deceit never leave its marketplace.^(L)

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Now it is not an enemy who insults me—
otherwise I could bear it;
it is not a foe who rises up against me—
otherwise I could hide from him.

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But it is you, a man who is my peer,
my companion and good friend!^(M)

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We used to have close fellowship;
we walked with the crowd into the house of God.^(N)

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Let death take them by surprise;^(O)
let them go down to Sheol alive,
because evil is in their homes and within them.^(P)

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But I call to God,
and the Lord will save me.^(Q)

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I complain and groan morning, noon, and night,^(R)
and He hears my voice.^(S)

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Though many are against me,
He will redeem me from my battle unharmed.^(T)

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God, the One enthroned from long ago,^(U)
will hear and will humiliate themSelah
because they do not change
and do not fear God.^(V)

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My friend^(W) acts violently
against those at peace with him;^(X)
he violates his covenant.^(Y)

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His buttery words are smooth,^(g)
but war is in his heart.
His words are softer than oil,
but they are drawn swords.^(Z)

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Cast your burden on the Lord,
and He will sustain you;^(AA)
He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.^(AB)

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God, You will bring them down
to the Pit of destruction;^(AC)
men of bloodshed and treachery
will not live out half their days.^(AD)
But I will trust in You.^(AE)

Footnotes:

a. Psalm 55:1: Lit hide Yourself from

b. Psalm 55:3: Or threat, or oppression

c. Psalm 55:3: LXX, Syr, Sym; MT reads they cause me to totter

d. Psalm 55:6: Lit “Who will give to me . . . dove?

e. Psalm 55:9: Or destroy

f. Psalm 55:9: Lit and divide their tongue

g. Psalm 55:21: Some Hb mss, Sym, Syr, Tg, Jer read His speech is smoother than butter

Cross references:

A. Psalm 55:1: Lamentations 3:56

B. Psalm 55:1: Psalm 4:1; Psalm 5:1-2; Psalm 54:2

C. Psalm 55:2: Psalm 64:1; Psalm 142:2

D. Psalm 55:3: Psalm 71:11

E. Psalm 55:4: Psalm 38:8

F. Psalm 55:4: Psalm 18:4-5; Psalm 116:3

G. Psalm 55:6: Job 3:13

H. Psalm 55:7: Jeremiah 9:2

I. Psalm 55:8: Isaiah 4:6; Isaiah 25:4

J. Psalm 55:9: Genesis 10:25; Genesis 11:7

K. Psalm 55:9: Jeremiah 6:7; Habakkuk 1:3

L. Psalm 55:11: Psalm 5:9; Psalm 10:7

M. Psalm 55:12: Job 19:13; Job 19:19; Psalm 41:9; Psalm 88:18

N. Psalm 55:14: Psalm 42:4

O. Psalm 55:15: Proverbs 6:15; Isaiah 47:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:3

P. Psalm 55:15: Numbers 16:30; Numbers 16:33

Q. Psalm 55:16: Psalm 119:46

R. Psalm 55:17: Psalm 92:2

S. Psalm 55:17: Psalm 64:1; Psalm 142:2

T. Psalm 55:18: Psalm 56:2; Psalm 103:4

U. Psalm 55:19: Psalm 93:2

V. Psalm 55:19: Deuteronomy 33:27

W. Psalm 55:20: Psalm 55:13

X. Psalm 55:20: Psalm 7:4

Y. Psalm 55:20: Psalm 89:34

Z. Psalm 55:21: Psalm 12:2; Psalm 28:3

AA. Psalm 55:22: 1 Peter 5:7

AB. Psalm 55:22: Psalm 37:24; Psalm 112:6

AC. Psalm 55:23: Isaiah 38:17; Ezekiel 28:8

AD. Psalm 55:23: Psalm 5:6

AE. Psalm 55:23: Psalm 56:3