Psalm 55 - New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995)

Prayer for the Destruction of the Treacherous.

For the choir director; on stringed instruments. A [a]Maskil of David.

55 (A)Give ear to my prayer, O God;
And (B)do not hide Yourself from my supplication.
2 Give (C)heed to me and answer me;
I am restless in my (D)complaint and [b](E)am surely distracted,
3 Because of the voice of the enemy,
Because of the (F)pressure of the wicked;
For they (G)bring down [c]trouble upon me
And in anger they (H)bear a grudge against me.

4 My (I)heart is in anguish within me,
And the terrors of (J)death have fallen upon me.
5 Fear and (K)trembling come upon me,
And [d](L)horror has overwhelmed me.
6 I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and [e](M)be at rest.
7 “Behold, I would wander far away,
I would (N)lodge in the wilderness. [f]Selah.
8 “I would hasten to my place of refuge
From the (O)stormy wind and tempest.”

9 [g]Confuse, O Lord, (P)divide their tongues,
For I have seen (Q)violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they go around her upon her walls,
And iniquity and mischief are in her midst.
11 (R)Destruction is in her midst;
(S)Oppression and deceit do not depart from her [h]streets.

12 For it is (T)not an enemy who reproaches me,
Then I could bear it;
Nor is it one who hates me who (U)has exalted himself against me,
Then I could hide myself from him.
13 But it is you, a man [i]my equal,
My (V)companion and my [j](W)familiar friend;
14 We who had sweet [k]fellowship together
(X)Walked in the house of God in the throng.
15 Let [l]death come (Y)deceitfully upon them;
Let them (Z)go down alive to [m]Sheol,
For evil is in their dwelling, in their midst.

16 As for me, I shall (AA)call upon God,
And the Lord will save me.
17 (AB)Evening and (AC)morning and at (AD)noon, I will complain and murmur,
And He will hear my voice.
18 He will (AE)redeem my soul in peace [n]from the battle which is against me,
For they are (AF)many who strive with me.
19 God will (AG)hear and [o]answer them—
Even the one (AH)who [p]sits enthroned from of old— Selah.
With whom there [q]is no change,
And who (AI)do not fear God.
20 He has put forth his hands against (AJ)those who were at peace with him;
He has [r](AK)violated his covenant.
21 His [s]speech was (AL)smoother than butter,
But his heart was war;
His words were (AM)softer than oil,
Yet they were drawn (AN)swords.

22 (AO)Cast [t]your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you;
(AP)He will never allow the righteous to [u](AQ)be shaken.
23 But You, O God, will bring them down to the [v](AR)pit of destruction;
(AS)Men of bloodshed and deceit will (AT)not live out half their days.
But I will (AU)trust in You.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 55:1 Possibly Contemplative, or Didactic, or Skillful Psalm
  2. Psalm 55:2 Or I must moan
  3. Psalm 55:3 Or wickedness
  4. Psalm 55:5 Lit shuddering
  5. Psalm 55:6 Lit settle down
  6. Psalm 55:7 Selah may mean: Pause, Crescendo or Musical interlude
  7. Psalm 55:9 Lit Swallow up
  8. Psalm 55:11 Or plaza
  9. Psalm 55:13 Lit according to my valuation
  10. Psalm 55:13 Or acquaintance
  11. Psalm 55:14 Lit counsel; or intimacy
  12. Psalm 55:15 Another reading is desolations be upon them
  13. Psalm 55:15 I.e. the nether world
  14. Psalm 55:18 Or so that none may approach me
  15. Psalm 55:19 Or afflict
  16. Psalm 55:19 Or abides from
  17. Psalm 55:19 Lit are no changes
  18. Psalm 55:20 Lit profaned
  19. Psalm 55:21 Lit mouth
  20. Psalm 55:22 Or what He has given you
  21. Psalm 55:22 Or totter
  22. Psalm 55:23 Or lowest pit

Cross references

  1. Psalm 55:1 : Ps 54:2; 61:1; 86:6
  2. Psalm 55:1 : Ps 27:9
  3. Psalm 55:2 : Ps 66:19; 86:6, 7
  4. Psalm 55:2 : 1 Sam 1:16; Job 9:27; Ps 64:1; 77:3; 142:2
  5. Psalm 55:2 : Is 38:14; 59:11; Ezek 7:16
  6. Psalm 55:3 : Ps 17:9
  7. Psalm 55:3 : 2 Sam 16:7, 8
  8. Psalm 55:3 : Ps 71:11; 143:3
  9. Psalm 55:4 : Ps 38:8
  10. Psalm 55:4 : Ps 18:4, 5; 116:3
  11. Psalm 55:5 : Ps 119:120
  12. Psalm 55:5 : Job 21:6; Is 21:4; Ezek 7:18
  13. Psalm 55:6 : Job 3:13
  14. Psalm 55:7 : 1 Sam 23:14
  15. Psalm 55:8 : Is 4:6; 25:4; 29:6
  16. Psalm 55:9 : Gen 11:9
  17. Psalm 55:9 : Ps 11:5; Jer 6:7
  18. Psalm 55:11 : Ps 5:9
  19. Psalm 55:11 : Ps 10:7; 17:9
  20. Psalm 55:12 : Ps 41:9
  21. Psalm 55:12 : Ps 35:26
  22. Psalm 55:13 : 2 Sam 15:12
  23. Psalm 55:13 : Job 19:14; Ps 41:9
  24. Psalm 55:14 : Ps 42:4
  25. Psalm 55:15 : Ps 64:7; Prov 6:15; Is 47:11; 1 Thess 5:3
  26. Psalm 55:15 : Num 16:30, 33
  27. Psalm 55:16 : Ps 57:2, 3
  28. Psalm 55:17 : Ps 141:2; Dan 6:10; Acts 3:1; 10:3, 30
  29. Psalm 55:17 : Ps 5:3; 88:13; 92:2
  30. Psalm 55:17 : Acts 10:9
  31. Psalm 55:18 : Ps 103:4
  32. Psalm 55:18 : Ps 56:2
  33. Psalm 55:19 : Ps 78:59
  34. Psalm 55:19 : Deut 33:27; Ps 90:2; 93:2
  35. Psalm 55:19 : Ps 36:1
  36. Psalm 55:20 : Ps 7:4; 120:7
  37. Psalm 55:20 : Num 30:2; Ps 89:34
  38. Psalm 55:21 : Ps 12:2; 28:3; Prov 5:3, 4
  39. Psalm 55:21 : Ps 12:2; 28:3; Prov 5:3, 4
  40. Psalm 55:21 : Ps 57:4; 59:7
  41. Psalm 55:22 : Ps 37:5; 1 Pet 5:7
  42. Psalm 55:22 : Ps 37:24
  43. Psalm 55:22 : Ps 15:5; 112:6
  44. Psalm 55:23 : Ps 73:18; Is 38:17; Ezek 28:8
  45. Psalm 55:23 : Ps 5:6
  46. Psalm 55:23 : Job 15:32; Prov 10:27
  47. Psalm 55:23 : Ps 25:2; 56:3

You Might Also Like:

Psalm 55 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

55 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 t...
Read More

Psalm 55 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

55 To victory in organs, the learning of David. God, hear thou my prayer, and despise thou not my beseeching; (To victory, on instruments, the teaching of David. God, hear thou my prayer, and despise thou not my plea;) 2 give thou attention to me, and hear thou me. I am sorrowful in mine exercising ...
Read More

Psalm 55 - World English Bible (WEB)

For the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A contemplation by David.55 Listen to my prayer, God. Don’t hide yourself from my supplication.2 Attend to me, and answer me. I am restless in my complaint,and moan 3 because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked.For the...
Read More

Psalm 55 - The Voice (VOICE)

Psalm 55For the worship leader. A contemplative song[a] of David accompanied by strings.1 Hear me, O God. Tune Your ear to my plea, and do not turn Your face from my prayer.2 Give me Your attention. Answer these sighs of sorrow; my troubles have made me restless—I groan from anxiety3 All because of ...
Read More

Psalm 55 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Betrayal by a FriendPsalm 551 For the music director, on stringed instruments, a contemplative song of David.2 Give ear, O God, to my prayerand do not ignore my plea for help.3 Listen to me and answer me.I am restless in my complaint and moan—4 because of the voice of the enemy, because of the press...
Read More

Psalm 55 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Complaint about a Friend’s TreacheryTo the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David.55 Give ear to my prayer, O God;and hide not thyself from my supplication!2 Attend to me, and answer me; I am overcome by my trouble.I am distraught 3 by the noise of the enemy, because of the oppre...
Read More

Psalm 55 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Complaint about a Friend’s TreacheryTo the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David.55 Give ear to my prayer, O God;and hide not thyself from my supplication!2 Attend to me, and answer me; I am overcome by my trouble.I am distraught 3 by the noise of the enemy, because of the oppre...
Read More

Psalm 55 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Psalm 55Complaint about a Friend’s TreacheryTo the leader: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David.1 Give ear to my prayer, O God; do not hide yourself from my supplication.2 Attend to me, and answer me; I am troubled in my complaint.I am distraught 3 by the noise of the enemy, because of the ...
Read More

Psalm 55 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Psalm 55Complaint about a Friend’s TreacheryTo the leader: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David.1 Give ear to my prayer, O God; do not hide yourself from my supplication.2 Attend to me, and answer me; I am troubled in my complaint.I am distraught 3 by the noise of the enemy, because of the ...
Read More

Psalm 55 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Psalm 55Complaint about a Friend’s TreacheryTo the leader: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David.1 Give ear to my prayer, O God; do not hide yourself from my supplication.(A)2 Attend to me and answer me; I am troubled in my complaint.I am distraught(B)3 by the noise of the enemy, because of t...
Read More

Psalm 55 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Psalm 55For the choir director: A psalm[a] of David, to be accompanied by stringed instruments.1 Listen to my prayer, O God. Do not ignore my cry for help!2 Please listen and answer me, for I am overwhelmed by my troubles.3 My enemies shout at me, making loud and wicked threats.They bring trouble on...
Read More

Psalm 55 - New Life Version (NLV)

Prayer of a Man Hurt by a Friend55 Listen to my prayer, O God. Do not hide Yourself from what I ask. 2 Hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I have no peace, 3 because of the voice of those who hate me and the power of the sinful. For they bring trouble upon me, and in anger they keep ...
Read More

Psalm 55 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Trust in God Concerning the Treachery of FriendsTo the Chief Musician. With [a]stringed instruments. A [b]Contemplation of David.55 Give ear to my prayer, O God,And do not hide Yourself from my supplication.2 Attend to me, and hear me;I (A)am[c] restless in my complaint, and moan noisily,3 Because o...
Read More

Psalm 55 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Psalm 55[a]For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil[b] of David.1 Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea;2 hear me and answer me.My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught3 because of what my enemy is saying, because of the threats of the wicked;for they bring down...
Read More

Psalm 55 - New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 55[a]For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil[b] of David.1 Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea;(A)2 hear me and answer me.(B)My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught(C)3 because of what my enemy is saying, because of the threats of the wicked;for they b...
Read More

Psalm 55 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Psalm 55For the director of music. A maskil of David to be played on stringed instruments.1 God, listen to my prayer. Pay attention to my cry for help.2 Hear me and answer me.My thoughts upset me. I’m very troubled.3 I’m troubled by what my enemies say about me. I’m upset because they say they wil...
Read More

Psalm 55 - New English Translation (NET)

Psalm 55[a]For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments; a well-written song[b] by David.55 Listen, O God, to my prayer.Do not ignore[c] my appeal for mercy.2 Pay attention to me and answer me.I am so upset[d] and distressed,[e] I am beside myself,[f]3 because of what the enemy ...
Read More