Psalm 55

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.

King James Version

1 To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication. 2 Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise; 3 Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me. 4 My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me. 5 Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. 6 And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. 7 Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah. 8 I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest. 9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city. 10 Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it. 11 Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets. 12 For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it : neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: 13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. 14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. 15 Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them. 16 As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me. 17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. 18 He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me. 19 God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God. 20 He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant. 21 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords. 22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. 23 But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.

Elberfelder Bibel

from SCM Verlag

1 Dem Chorleiter. Mit Saitenspiel. Ein Maskil^[1]. Von David. 2 Nimm zu Ohren, Gott, mein Gebet, und verbirg dich nicht vor meinem Flehen! (Ps 17:1; La 3:56) 3 Horche auf mich und antworte mir! Ich irre umher in meiner Klage und muss stöhnen 4 vor der Stimme des Feindes, vor der Bedrückung des Gottlosen; denn sie wälzen Unheil auf mich, und im Zorn feinden sie mich an. (2Sa 16:7; Ps 42:10) 5 Mein Herz bebte in meinem Innern, und Todesschrecken haben mich befallen. (Ps 18:6) 6 Furcht und Zittern kamen mich an, und Schauder bedeckte mich. (Isa 21:4) 7 Und ich sprach: Hätte ich doch Flügel wie die Taube, ich wollte hinfliegen und ruhen. 8 Siehe, weithin entflöhe ich, würde nächtigen in der Wüste. // 9 Ich wollte eilen, dass ich Zuflucht hätte vor dem heftigen Wind, vor dem Sturm. 10 Verwirre, Herr, spalte ihre Zunge! – denn Gewalttat und Streit habe ich in der Stadt gesehen. (2Sa 15:31; Ps 58:3) 11 Tag und Nacht machen sie die Runde um sie auf ihren Mauern; und Unheil und Mühsal sind in ihrer Mitte. (Isa 59:6) 12 Verderben ist in ihrer Mitte, und Bedrückung und Betrug^[2] weichen nicht von ihrem ⟨Markt⟩platz. 13 Denn nicht ein Feind höhnt mich, sonst würde ich es ertragen; nicht mein Hasser hat großgetan gegen mich, sonst würde ich mich vor ihm verbergen; 14 sondern du, ein Mensch meinesgleichen, mein Freund und mein Vertrauter, (Job 19:19; Ps 41:10) 15 die wir die Süße der Gemeinschaft miteinander erlebten, ins Haus Gottes gingen in ⟨festlicher⟩ Unruhe! 16 Der Tod überrasche sie, lebendig mögen sie hinabfahren in den Scheol; denn Bosheiten sind in ihrer Wohnung^[3], in ihrem Innern. (Nu 16:33) 17 Ich aber, ich rufe zu Gott, und der HERR rettet mich. (Ps 72:12) 18 Abends und morgens und mittags klage und stöhne ich; und er hat meine Stimme gehört. (Ps 17:1; La 3:56; Lu 18:7) 19 Er hat meine Seele zum Frieden erlöst, dass sie mir nicht nahen können^[4]; denn mit vielen sind sie gegen mich gewesen. 20 Hören wird Gott und sie unterdrücken – er thront ja von alters her; // weil es keine Zuverlässigkeit^[5] bei ihnen gibt und sie Gott nicht fürchten. (2Ki 17:34; Ps 6:10; Ps 93:2; Jer 5:3)

2Ki 17:34Ps 6:10Ps 93:2Jer 5:3

21 Er^[6] hat ausgestreckt seine Hände gegen seine Freunde^[7], entweiht hat er seinen Bund. 22 Glatter als weiche Butter ist sein Mund^[8], und Feindschaft ist sein Herz; geschmeidiger als Öl sind seine Worte, aber sie sind gezogene Schwerter. (Ps 12:3; Mt 26:49) 23 Wirf auf den HERRN deine Last^[9], und er wird dich erhalten; er wird für ewig nicht zulassen, dass der Gerechte wankt. (Ps 66:9; Ps 112:6; Ps 121:3; 1Pe 5:7)

Ps 66:9Ps 112:6Ps 121:31Pe 5:7

24 Und du, Gott, wirst sie hinabstürzen in den Brunnen der Grube^[10]; die Männer des Blutes und des Betruges^[11] werden ihre Tage nicht zur Hälfte bringen. Ich aber will auf dich vertrauen. (Ps 40:3; Ps 62:2; Ps 109:8; Pr 10:27)

Ps 40:3Ps 62:2Ps 109:8Pr 10:27