New Living Translation

New King James Version

For the choir director: A psalma of David, to be accompanied by stringed instruments.

Listen to my prayer, O God.
Do not ignore my cry for help!

1

Trust in God Concerning the Treachery of Friends

To the Chief Musician. With [a]stringed instruments. A [b]Contemplation of David.

Give ear to my prayer, O God,
And do not hide Yourself from my supplication.

2

Please listen and answer me,
for I am overwhelmed by my troubles.

2

Attend to me, and hear me;
I am[c] restless in my complaint, and moan noisily,

3

My enemies shout at me,
making loud and wicked threats.
They bring trouble on me
and angrily hunt me down.

3

Because of the voice of the enemy,
Because of the oppression of the wicked;
For they bring down trouble upon me,
And in wrath they hate me.

4

My heart pounds in my chest.
The terror of death assaults me.

4

My heart is severely pained within me,
And the terrors of death have fallen upon me.

5

Fear and trembling overwhelm me,
and I can’t stop shaking.

5

Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me,
And horror has overwhelmed me.

6

Oh, that I had wings like a dove;
then I would fly away and rest!

6

So I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest.

7

I would fly far away
to the quiet of the wilderness.
Interlude

7

Indeed, I would wander far off,
And remain in the wilderness. Selah

8

How quickly I would escape —
far from this wild storm of hatred.

8

I would hasten my escape
From the windy storm and tempest.”

9

Confuse them, Lord, and frustrate their plans,
for I see violence and conflict in the city.

9

Destroy, O Lord, and divide their [d]tongues,
For I have seen violence and strife in the city.

10

Its walls are patrolled day and night against invaders,
but the real danger is wickedness within the city.

10

Day and night they go around it on its walls;
Iniquity and trouble are also in the midst of it.

11

Everything is falling apart;
threats and cheating are rampant in the streets.

11

Destruction is in its midst;
Oppression and deceit do not depart from its streets.

12

It is not an enemy who taunts me —
I could bear that.
It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me —
I could have hidden from them.

12

For it is not an enemy who reproaches me;
Then I could bear it.
Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me;
Then I could hide from him.

13

Instead, it is you — my equal,
my companion and close friend.

13

But it was you, a man my equal,
My companion and my acquaintance.

14

What good fellowship we once enjoyed
as we walked together to the house of God.

14

We took sweet counsel together,
And walked to the house of God in the throng.

15

Let death stalk my enemies;
let the graveb swallow them alive,
for evil makes its home within them.

15

Let death seize them;
Let them go down alive into [e]hell,
For wickedness is in their dwellings and among them.

16

But I will call on God,
and the LORD will rescue me.

16

As for me, I will call upon God,
And the Lord shall save me.

17

Morning, noon, and night
I cry out in my distress,
and the LORD hears my voice.

17

Evening and morning and at noon
I will pray, and cry aloud,
And He shall hear my voice.

18

He ransoms me and keeps me safe
from the battle waged against me,
though many still oppose me.

18

He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me,
For there were many against me.

19

God, who has ruled forever,
will hear me and humble them.
Interlude
For my enemies refuse to change their ways;
they do not fear God.

19

God will hear, and afflict them,
Even He who abides from of old. Selah
Because they do not change,
Therefore they do not fear God.

20

As for my companion, he betrayed his friends;
he broke his promises.

20

He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him;
He has broken his [f]covenant.

21

His words are as smooth as butter,
but in his heart is war.
His words are as soothing as lotion,
but underneath are daggers!

21

The words of his mouth were smoother than butter,
But war was in his heart;
His words were softer than oil,
Yet they were drawn swords.

22

Give your burdens to the LORD,
and he will take care of you.
He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

22

Cast your burden on the Lord,
And He shall sustain you;
He shall never permit the righteous to be [g]moved.

23

But you, O God, will send the wicked
down to the pit of destruction.
Murderers and liars will die young,
but I am trusting you to save me.

23

But You, O God, shall bring them down to the pit of destruction;
Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days;
But I will trust in You.

Parallel

New Living Translation

New King James Version

Psalms 55

Psalms 55