For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments; a well-written song 2 by David.
55:1 Listen, O God, to my prayer!
Do not ignore 3 my appeal for mercy!
55:2 Pay attention to me and answer me!
I am so upset 4 and distressed, 5 I am beside myself, 6
55:3 because of what the enemy says, 7
and because of how the wicked 8 pressure me, 9
for they hurl trouble 10 down upon me 11
and angrily attack me.
55:4 My heart beats violently 12 within me;
the horrors of death overcome me. 13
55:5 Fear and panic overpower me; 14
terror overwhelms 15 me.
55:6 I say, 16 “I wish I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and settle in a safe place!
55:7 Look, I will escape to a distant place;
I will stay in the wilderness. (Selah)
55:8 I will hurry off to a place that is safe
from the strong wind 17 and the gale.”
55:9 Confuse them, 18 O Lord!
Frustrate their plans! 19
For I see violence and conflict in the city.
55:10 Day and night they walk around on its walls, 20
while wickedness and destruction 21 are within it.
55:11 Disaster is within it;
violence 22 and deceit do not depart from its public square.
55:12 Indeed, 23 it is not an enemy who insults me,
or else I could bear it;
it is not one who hates me who arrogantly taunts me, 24
or else I could hide from him.
55:13 But it is you, 25 a man like me, 26
my close friend in whom I confided. 27
55:14 We would share personal thoughts with each other; 28
in God’s temple we would walk together among the crowd.
55:15 May death destroy them! 29
May they go down alive into Sheol! 30
For evil is in their dwelling place and in their midst.
55:16 As for me, I will call out to God,
and the Lord will deliver me.
55:17 During the evening, morning, and noontime
I will lament and moan, 31
and he will hear 32 me. 33
55:18 He will rescue 34 me and protect me from those who attack me, 35
even though 36 they greatly outnumber me. 37
55:19 God, the one who has reigned as king from long ago,
will hear and humiliate them. 38 (Selah)
They refuse to change,
and do not fear God. 39
55:20 He 40 attacks 41 his friends; 42
he breaks his solemn promises to them. 43
55:21 His words are as smooth as butter, 44
but he harbors animosity in his heart. 45
His words seem softer than oil,
but they are really like sharp swords. 46
55:22 Throw your burden 47 upon the Lord,
and he will sustain you. 48
He will never allow the godly to be upended. 49
55:23 But you, O God, will bring them 50 down to the deep Pit. 51
Violent and deceitful people 52 will not live even half a normal lifespan. 53
But as for me, I trust in you.
For the music director; according to the yonath-elem-rechovim style; 55 a prayer 56 of David, written when the Philistines captured him in Gath. 57
56:1 Have mercy on me, O God, for men are attacking me! 58
All day long hostile enemies 59 are tormenting me. 60
56:2 Those who anticipate my defeat 61 attack me all day long.
Indeed, 62 many are fighting against me, O Exalted One. 63
56:3 When 64 I am afraid,
I trust in you.
56:4 In God – I boast in his promise 65 –
in God I trust, I am not afraid.
What can mere men 66 do to me? 67
56:5 All day long they cause me trouble; 68
they make a habit of plotting my demise. 69
56:6 They stalk 70 and lurk; 71
they watch my every step, 72
as 73 they prepare to take my life. 74
56:7 Because they are bent on violence, do not let them escape! 75
In your anger 76 bring down the nations, 77 O God!
56:8 You keep track of my misery. 78
Put my tears in your leather container! 79
Are they not recorded in your scroll? 80
56:9 My enemies will turn back when I cry out to you for help; 81
I know that God is on my side. 82
56:10 In God – I boast in his promise 83 –
in the Lord – I boast in his promise 84 –
56:11 in God I trust, I am not afraid.
What can mere men 85 do to me? 86
56:12 I am obligated to fulfill the vows I made to you, O God; 87
I will give you the thank-offerings you deserve, 88
56:13 when you deliver 89 my life from death.
You keep my feet from stumbling, 90
so that I might serve 91 God as I enjoy life. 92