Psa 55 | HCSB | STEP | For the choir director : with stringed instruments . A Davidic Maskil . God , listen to my prayer and do not ignore my plea for help .

Psalms 55

Betrayal by a Friend

1 For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A Davidic ^{▼▼Maskil: From a Hebrew word meaning to be prudent or to have insight; possibly a contemplative, instructive, or wisdom psalm}Maskil.

God, listen to my prayer
and do not ignore ^{▼▼Lit hide Yourself from} my plea for help. ^c
2 Pay attention to me and answer me. ^d
I am restless and in turmoil with my complaint, ^e
3 because of the enemy’s voice,
because of the pressure ^{▼▼Or threat, or oppression} of the wicked.
For they bring down disaster on me ^{▼▼LXX, Syr, Sym; MT reads they cause me to totter}
and harass me in anger. ^h

4 My heart shudders within me; ⁱ
terrors of death sweep over me.
5 Fear and trembling grip me;
horror has overwhelmed me. ^j
6 I said, “If only I had ^{▼▼Lit “Who will give to me . . . dove?} wings like a dove!
I would fly away and find rest. ^l
7 How far away I would flee;
I would stay in the wilderness. ^{m
,} ^{▼▼Selah: A Hebrew word whose meaning is uncertain; various interpretations include: (1) a musical notation, (2) a pause for silence, (3) a signal for worshipers to fall prostrate on the ground, (4) a term for the worshipers to call out, and (5) a word meaning "forever"}
Selah

8 I would hurry to my shelter
from the raging wind and the storm.” ^o

9 Lord, confuse ^{▼▼Or destroy} and confound their speech, ^{▼▼Lit and divide their tongue
,} ^r
for I see violence and strife in the city;
10 day and night they make the rounds on its walls.
Crime and trouble are within it; ^s
11 destruction is inside it;
oppression and deceit never leave its marketplace. ^t

12 Now 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.
13 But it is you, a man who is my peer,
my companion and good friend! ^u
14 We used to have close fellowship;
we walked with the crowd into the house of God. ^v

15 Let death take them by surprise; ^w
let them go down to ^{▼▼Sheol: A Hebrew word for either the grave or the realm of the dead}Sheol alive,
because evil is in their homes and within them. ^y
16 But I call to God,
and the Lord will save me. ^z
17 I complain and groan morning, noon, and night, ^aa
and He hears my voice. ^ab
18 Though many are against me,
He will redeem me from my battle unharmed. ^ac
19 God, the One enthroned from long ago, ^ad
will hear and will humiliate them ^{▼▼Selah: A Hebrew word whose meaning is uncertain; various interpretations include: (1) a musical notation, (2) a pause for silence, (3) a signal for worshipers to fall prostrate on the ground, (4) a term for the worshipers to call out, and (5) a word meaning "forever"}
Selah

because they do not change
and do not ^{▼▼fear(s) God or the Lord/ the fear of the Lord: No single English word conveys every aspect of the word fear in this phrase. The meaning includes worshipful submission, reverential awe, and obedient respect to the covenant-keeping God of Israel.}fear God. ^ag

20 My friend ^ah acts violently
against those at peace with him; ^ai
he violates his covenant. ^aj
21 His buttery words are smooth, ^{▼▼Some Hb mss, Sym, Syr, Tg, Jer read His speech is smoother than butter}
but war is in his heart.
His words are softer than oil,
but they are drawn swords. ^al

22 Cast your burden on the Lord,
and He will sustain you; ^am
He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. ^an

23 God, You will bring them down
to the ^{▼▼Pit: Either the grave or the realm of the dead}Pit of destruction; ^ap
men of bloodshed and treachery
will not live out half their days. ^aq
But I will trust in You. ^ar