Psalms 55:1-22

¹For the leader. With stringed instruments. A maskil of David. Listen, God, to my prayer. Don't hide yourself from my pleading.

²Hear me, and answer; for bitter is my lament.

³I am wild with the noise of the foe, with the clamour of the ungodly; for they hurl disaster upon me, and attack me with fury.

⁴My heart shudders within me, terrors of deaths press on me,

⁵fear and trembling attack me, and horror wraps me round.

⁶O for the wings of a dove: I would fly away and rest.

⁷I would wander far away, find refuge in the wilderness. Selah

⁸I would find myself a shelter from raging wind and tempest.

⁹Confuse them, Lord, upset their plans; for I see violence and strife in the city.

¹⁰By day and by night they make their rounds on the city walls, while within is crime and trouble,

¹¹within is ruin. Her market-place is never free of deceit and tyranny.

¹²The taunts were not those of a foe that I could have borne; the disdain was not that of an enemy I could have shunned them:

¹³but it was you, my equal, my dear and familiar friend.

¹⁴We used to be so close, together we walked in God's house with the crowd.

¹⁵May death suddenly take them, may they go down to Sheol alive, for evil lives in their homes and their hearts.

¹⁶But I will call on God, the Lord will save me.

¹⁷Evening and morning and noon I lament and moan. He will hear my voice;

¹⁸though I am attacked by many he will rescue me, unharmed from the war.

¹⁹God, who sits on his ancient throne will hear and will humble them, for they never change, they never fear God. Selah

²⁰My friend turned against me, betrayed his word.

²¹His mouth was smoother than butter, but war filled his heart. His words were softer than oil, but sharper than swords.

²²Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you. He will never let the righteous be shaken.