Zabur 55

For the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A contemplation by Dawud.

¹Listen to my prayer, God.

Do not hide yourself from my supplication.

²Attend to me, and answer me.

I am restless in my complaint, and moan,

³Because of the voice of the enemy,

Because of the oppression of the wicked.

For they bring suffering on me.

In anger they hold a grudge against me.

⁴My heart is severely pained within me.

The terrors of death have fallen on me.

⁵Fearfulness and trembling have come on me.

Horror has overwhelmed me.

⁶I said, "Oh that I had wings like a dove!

Then I would fly away, and be at rest.

⁷Behold, then I would wander far off.

I would lodge in the wilderness."

Selah.

⁸"I would hurry to a shelter from the stormy wind and tempest."

⁹Confuse them, Lord, and confound their language,

For I have seen violence and strife in the city.

¹⁰Day and night they prowl around on its walls.

Malice and abuse are also within her.

¹¹Destructive forces are within her.

Threats and lies do not depart from her streets.

¹²For it was not an enemy who insulted me,

Then I could have endured it.

Neither was it he who hated me who raised himself up against me,

Then I would have hid myself from him.

¹³But it was you, a man like me,

My companion, and my familiar friend.

¹⁴We took sweet fellowship together.

We walked in God's house with company.

¹⁵Let death come suddenly on them.

Let them go down alive into the grave.

For wickedness is in their dwelling, in the midst of them.

¹⁶As for me, I will call on God.

Allah will save me.

¹⁷Evening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress.

He will hear my voice.

¹⁸He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me,

Although there are many who oppose me.

¹⁹God, who is enthroned forever,

Will hear, and answer them.

Selah.

They never change,

Who do not fear God.

²⁰He raises his hands against his friends.

He has violated his covenant.

²¹His mouth was smooth as butter,

But his heart was war.

His words were softer than oil,

Yet they were drawn swords.

²²Cast your burden on Allah, and he will sustain you.

He will never allow the righteous to be moved.

²³But you, God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction.

Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days,

But I will trust in you.