Psalm 55

Cast Your Burden on the Lord

1. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Maskil[a] of David. 1 Give ear to my prayer, O God, 1 and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy!

2. Attend to me, and answer me; 2 I am restless in my complaint and I moan,

3. because of the noise of the enemy, 3 because of the oppression of the wicked. 3 For they drop trouble upon me, 3 and in anger they bear a grudge against me.

4. My heart is in anguish within me; 4 the terrors of death have fallen upon me.

5. Fear and trembling come upon me, 5 and horror overwhelms me.

6. And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! 6 I would fly away and be at rest;

7. yes, I would wander far away; 7 I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah

8. I would hurry to find a shelter 8 from the raging wind and tempest.”

9. Destroy, O Lord, divide their tongues; 9 for I see violence and strife in the city.

10. Day and night they go around it 10 on its walls, 10 and iniquity and trouble are within it;

11. ruin is in its midst; 11 oppression and fraud 11 do not depart from its marketplace.

12. For it is not an enemy who taunts me— 12 then I could bear it; 12 it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me— 12 then I could hide from him.

13. But it is you, a man, my equal, 13 my companion, my familiar friend.

14. We used to take sweet counsel together; 14 within God's house we walked in the throng.

15. Let death steal over them; 15 let them go down to Sheol alive; 15 for evil is in their dwelling place and in their heart.

16. But I call to God, 16 and the Lord will save me.

17. Evening and morning and at noon 17 I utter my complaint and moan, 17 and he hears my voice.

18. He redeems my soul in safety 18 from the battle that I wage, 18 for many are arrayed against me.

19. God will give ear and humble them, 19 he who is enthroned from of old, Selah 19 because they do not change 19 and do not fear God.

20. My companion[b] stretched out his hand against his friends; 20 he violated his covenant.

21. His speech was smooth as butter, 21 yet war was in his heart; 21 his words were softer than oil, 21 yet they were drawn swords.

22. Cast your burden on the Lord, 22 and he will sustain you; 22 he will never permit 22 the righteous to be moved.

23. But you, O God, will cast them down 23 into the pit of destruction; 23 men of blood and treachery 23 shall not live out half their days. 23 But I will trust in you.

Footnotes:
a. Psalm 55:1: Probably a musical or liturgical term
b. Psalm 55:20: Hebrew He