Psalms55

David cries out to God in deep distress, overwhelmed by the oppression of his enemies and the terror of death. His greatest pain stems from the profound betrayal by a trusted friend, an equal with whom he shared close fellowship. Despite his initial desire to flee, David resolves to call upon the Lord, confident that God will hear his prayer, deliver him, and bring judgment upon the wicked and deceitful.

A Prayer for Deliverance from Distress

1
To the Overseer with stringed instruments. --An instruction, by David. Give ear, O God, to my prayer, And hide not from my supplication.
2
Attend to me, and answer me, I mourn in my meditation, and make a noise,
3
Because of the voice of an enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked, For they cause sorrow to move against me, And in anger they hate me.
4
My heart is pained within me, And terrors of death have fallen on me.
5
Fear and trembling come in to me, And horror doth cover me.
6
And I say, `Who doth give to me a pinion as a dove? I fly away and rest,
7
Lo, I move far off, I lodge in a wilderness. Selah.
8
I hasten escape for myself, From a rushing wind, from a whirlwind.

The Violence of the City and the Betrayal

9
Swallow up, O Lord, divide their tongue, For I saw violence and strife in a city.
10
By day and by night they go round it, on its walls. Both iniquity and perverseness are in its midst,
11
Mischiefs are in its midst. Fraud and deceit depart not from its street.
12
For an enemy reproacheth me not, or I bear it , He who is hating me Hath not magnified himself against me, Or I hide from him.
13
But thou, a man--as mine equal, My familiar friend, and mine acquaintance.
14
When together we sweeten counsel, Into the house of God we walk in company.
15
Desolations are upon them, They go down to Sheol--alive, For wickedness is in their dwelling, in their midst.

Trusting God for Vindication

16
I--to God I call, and Jehovah saveth me.
17
Evening, and morning, and noon, I meditate, and make a noise, and He heareth my voice,
18
He hath ransomed in peace my soul From him who is near to me, For with the multitude they were with me.
19
God doth hear and afflict them, And He sitteth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, and fear not God,
20
He hath sent forth his hands against his well-wishers, He hath polluted his covenant.
21
Sweeter than honey hath been his mouth, And his heart is war! Softer have been his words than oil, And they are drawn swords .
22
Cast on Jehovah that which He hath given thee, And He doth sustain thee, He doth not suffer for ever the moving of the righteous.
23
And Thou, O God, dost bring them down To a pit of destruction, Men of blood and deceit reach not to half their days, And I--I do trust in Thee!
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