Psalms 55:5-21

⁵I'm in a panic, trembling with fear; feelings of horror wash over me.

⁶I tell myself, If only God would give me wings like a dove so I could fly away and be at peace!

⁷I would fly far away to escape, and stay in the wilderness. Selah.

⁸I would hurry to a place to hide, out of the wind, safe from the raging storm.

⁹Confuse them, Lord! Muddle what they're saying, for I see violence and conflict in the city.

¹⁰They patrol the city walls day and night, and wickedness and trouble are within the city.

¹¹The ones causing destruction are inside the city; frauds and cheats are always on the streets.

¹²The problem is that it's not an enemy who mocks me—I could stand that. It's not someone who hates me who insults me—I could avoid them.

¹³No, it's you, a man just like me, my best friend who I know so well!

¹⁴Our friendship was so close. We used to have great talks together as we walked with everyone to the house of God.

¹⁵May death come quickly to them; may they go down into the grave alive, because evil finds its home in them.

¹⁶As for me, I cry out to God, and the Lord will save me.

¹⁷I weep and groan morning, noon, and night, and he listens to me.

¹⁸He rescues me, keeping me safe and sound from my attackers, because there are so many against me.

¹⁹God who has ruled from the beginning will hear me and answer them. Selah. For they refuse to change and don't respect God.

²⁰As for my best friend, he attacked his friends who had no quarrel with him; he broke the promises he had made to them.

²¹What he says is as smooth as butter, but inside he plans war; his words are as soothing as oil, but they cut like sharp swords.