55:1
[For the choirmaster For strings Poem Of David] God, hear my prayer, do not hide away from my plea,
55:2
give me a hearing, answer me, my troubles give me no peace. I shudder
55:3
at the enemy's shouts, at the outcry of the wicked; they heap up charges against me, in their anger bring hostile accusations against me.
55:4
My heart writhes within me, the terrors of death come upon me,
55:5
fear and trembling overwhelm me, and shuddering grips me.
55:6
And I say, 'Who will give me wings like a dove, to fly away and find rest?'
55:7
How far I would escape, and make a nest in the desert!Pause
55:8
I would soon find a refuge from the storm of abuse, from the
55:9
destructive tempest, Lord, from the flood of their tongues. For I see violence and strife in the city,
55:10
day and night they make their rounds along the city walls, Inside live malice and mischief,
55:11
inside lives destruction, tyranny and treachery never absent from its central square.
55:12
Were it an enemy who insulted me, that I could bear; if an opponent pitted himself against me, I could turn away from him.
55:13
But you, a person of my own rank, a comrade and dear friend,
55:14
to whom I was bound by intimate friendship in the house of God! May they recoil in disorder,
55:15
may death descend on them, may they go down alive to Sheol, since evil shares their home with them.
55:16
For my part, I appeal to God, and Yahweh saves me;
55:17
evening, morning, noon, I complain and I groan. He hears my cry,
55:18
he ransoms me and gives me peace from the feud against me, for they are taking me to law.
55:19
But God will listen and will humble them, he who has been enthroned from the beginning; no change of heart for them, for they do not fear God.
55:20
They attack those at peace with them, going back on their oaths;
55:21
though their mouth is smoother than butter, enmity is in their hearts; their words more soothing than oil, yet sharpened like swords.
55:22
Unload your burden onto Yahweh and he will sustain you; never will he allow the upright to stumble.
55:23
You, God, will thrust them down to the abyss of destruction, men bloodthirsty and deceptive, before half their days are spent. For my part, I put my trust in you.
Previous
Next