Psalm 55 | New International Version

New International Version

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil of David.

1 Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea;^[1] 2 hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught 3 because of what my enemy is saying, because of the threats of the wicked; for they bring down suffering on me and assail me in their anger. 4 My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen on me. 5 Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me. 6 I said, ‘Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. 7 I would flee far away and stay in the desert;^[2] 8 I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.’ 9 Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words, for I see violence and strife in the city. 10 Day and night they prowl about on its walls; malice and abuse are within it. 11 Destructive forces are at work in the city; threats and lies never leave its streets. 12 If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were rising against me, I could hide. 13 But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, 14 with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship at the house of God, as we walked about among the worshippers. 15 Let death take my enemies by surprise; let them go down alive to the realm of the dead, for evil finds lodging among them. 16 As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me. 17 Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. 18 He rescues me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me. 19 God, who is enthroned from of old, who does not change – he will hear them and humble them, because they have no fear of God. 20 My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant. 21 His talk is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords. 22 Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. 23 But you, God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of decay; the bloodthirsty and deceitful will not live out half their days. But as for me, I trust in you.

English Standard Version

Cast Your Burden on the Lord

1 To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Maskil^[1] of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy! (Ps 4:1; Ps 54:2; Ps 61:1; Ps 86:6)

Ps 4:1Ps 54:2Ps 61:1Ps 86:6

2 Attend to me, and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and I moan, (Ps 55:17; Ps 64:1; Isa 38:14; Isa 59:11)

Ps 55:17Ps 64:1Isa 38:14Isa 59:11

3 because of the noise of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they drop trouble upon me, and in anger they bear a grudge against me. (2Sa 16:7) 4 My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen upon me. (Ps 116:3) 5 Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me. (Job 21:6; Ps 78:53; Isa 21:4; Eze 7:18)

Job 21:6Ps 78:53Isa 21:4Eze 7:18

6 And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest; 7 yes, I would wander far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; (Jer 9:2) 8 I would hurry to find a shelter from the raging wind and tempest.” (Ps 83:15) 9 Destroy, O Lord, divide their tongues; for I see violence and strife in the city. (Ge 11:9; Jer 6:7) 10 Day and night they go around it on its walls, and iniquity and trouble are within it; (Ps 5:9) 11 ruin is in its midst; oppression and fraud do not depart from its marketplace. (Ps 10:7) 12 For it is not an enemy who taunts me— then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me— then I could hide from him. (Job 19:5) 13 But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. (2Sa 15:12; 2Sa 16:23; Ps 41:9) 14 We used to take sweet counsel together; within God’s house we walked in the throng. (Ps 42:4) 15 Let death steal over them; let them go down to Sheol alive; for evil is in their dwelling place and in their heart. (Nu 16:30; Nu 16:33; Ps 124:3; Pr 1:12)

Nu 16:30Nu 16:33Ps 124:3Pr 1:12

16 But I call to God, and the Lord will save me. 17 Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice. (Ps 5:3; Ps 55:2; Ps 88:13; Ps 92:2; Ps 141:2; Da 6:10; Ac 3:1; Ac 10:3; Ac 10:9; Ac 10:30)

Ps 5:3Ps 55:2Ps 88:13Ps 92:2Ps 141:2Da 6:10Ac 3:1Ac 10:3Ac 10:9Ac 10:30

18 He redeems my soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against me. (Ps 56:2) 19 God will give ear and humble them, he who is enthroned from of old, because they do not change and do not fear God. (De 33:27; Job 10:17; Job 21:7) 20 My companion^[2] stretched out his hand against his friends; he violated his covenant. (Ac 12:1) 21 His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords. (Ps 28:3; Ps 57:4; Pr 5:3) 22 Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. (Ps 10:6; Ps 37:5) 23 But you, O God, will cast them down into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in you. (Job 15:32; Ps 5:6; Ps 11:1; Ps 55:15; Ps 56:7; Ps 59:11; Ps 69:15; Ps 94:13; Pr 10:27)

Job 15:32Ps 5:6Ps 11:1Ps 55:15Ps 56:7Ps 59:11Ps 69:15Ps 94:13Pr 10:27