Psalm 55

Betrayal by a Friend

For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David.

¹God, listen to my prayer

and do not hide from my plea for help. ^a

²Pay attention to me and answer me. ^b

I am restless and in turmoil with my complaint, ^c

³because of the enemy’s words, ^d

because of the pressure ^e of the wicked.

For they bring down disaster on me

and harass me in anger. ^f

⁴My heart shudders within me; ^g

terrors of death sweep over me.

⁵Fear and trembling grip me;

horror has overwhelmed me. ^h

⁶I said, “If only I had wings like a dove!

I would fly away and find rest. ⁱ

⁷How far away I would flee;

I would stay in the wilderness. ^j Selah

⁸I would hurry to my shelter

from the raging wind and the storm.” ^k

⁹Lord, confuse ^l and confound their speech, ^m,ⁿ

for I see violence and strife in the city;

¹⁰day and night they make the rounds on its walls.

Crime and trouble are within it; ^o

¹¹destruction is inside it;

oppression and deceit never leave its marketplace. ^p

¹²Now it is not an enemy who insults me —

otherwise I could bear it;

it is not a foe who rises up against me —

otherwise I could hide from him.

¹³But it is you, a man who is my peer,

my companion and good friend! ^q

¹⁴We used to have close fellowship;

we walked with the crowd into the house of God. ^r

¹⁵Let death take them by surprise; ^s

let them go down to Sheol alive,

because evil is in their homes and within them. ^t

¹⁶But I call to God,

and the Lord will save me. ^u

¹⁷I complain and groan morning, noon, and night, ^v

and he hears my voice. ^w

¹⁸Though many are against me,

he will redeem me from my battle unharmed. ^x

¹⁹God, the one enthroned from long ago, ^y

will hear and will humiliate them Selah

because they do not change

and do not fear God. ^z

²⁰My friend ^aa acts violently

against those at peace with him; ^ab

he violates his covenant. ^ac

²¹His buttery words are smooth,

but war is in his heart.

His words are softer than oil,

but they are drawn swords. ^ad

²²Cast your burden on the Lord,

and he will sustain you; ^ae

he will never allow the righteous to be shaken. ^af

²³God, you will bring them down

to the Pit of destruction; ^ag

men of bloodshed and treachery

will not live out half their days. ^ah

But I will trust in you. ^ai