Psalms 55

1 Listen [give ear, pay attention] to my prayer [cry for help, supplication], O God [the Almighty, Creator], and do not ignore [hide not thyself, turn away] my plea [request, cry for help]. word study 2 Attend [listen carefully, give heed] to me and answer [respond to, hear] me. I am restless [terribly troubled, frantic] in my complaint [prayer, supplication], and distraught [mourning, making a noise] word study 3 at the voice [sound, cry] of the enemy [those who oppose me], at the pressure [oppression, vexation] of the wicked [those who do evil]. For they release [bring, cast] disaster [iniquity, suffering] upon me and revile [hate, persecute] me in their anger [wrath, fury]. word study 4 My heart [is sore pained, deeply wounded] murmurs [thumps in agony] within me, and the terrors [fears, troubles] of death [the fear of dying, mortal danger] assail [have fallen upon, are attacking] me. word study 5 Fear [fearfulness, deep anxiety] and trembling [shaking, quivering] grip me, and horror [terror, dreadful fear] has overwhelmed [completely covered, taken over] me. word study 6 I said, “Oh, that I had wings [like a bird, to fly away] like a dove! I would fly away [to a distant place, to escape] and find rest [be at peace, in a state of tranquility, free from turmoil]. word study 7 How far away [to a very distant place, far off] I would flee [escape, fly away]! In the wilderness [desolate, uninhabited land] I would remain [stay, lodge, dwell]. Selah word study 8 I would hurry [quickly find, hasten my escape] to my shelter [place to hide, refuge], far from [removed from, away from] this raging [stormy, windy] tempest [whirlwind, violent wind].” word study 9 O Lord [the Supreme Ruler], confuse [destroy, swallow up] and confound [divide, muddle] their speech [tongues, language], for I see [have witnessed, observed] violence [cruelty, fighting] and strife [conflict, turmoil] in the city [town, the citie]. word study 10 Day and night they encircle [go about, patrol] the walls [of the city], while [in the midst of it] malice [iniquity, wickedness] and trouble [mischief, sorrow, strife] lie [are present, reside] within [inside, in the heart of it]. word study 11 Destruction [mischiefs, evil] is within [in the midst, at the heart]; oppression [cruel rule, threats] and deceit [guile, fraud] never leave [depart not from] the streets [marketplaces, public squares]. word study 12 For it is not an enemy [a foe, one who hates] who insults [reproaches, speaks against] me; that I could endure [bear, tolerate]. It is not a foe [one who rises against, an adversary] who rises [exalts himself, magnifies himself] against me; from him I could hide [conceal myself, escape]. word study 13 But it is you, a man [my equal] like myself, my companion [guide, familiar friend] and close friend [well-loved, intimate acquaintance]. word study 14 We shared [took, had] sweet [loving, delightful] fellowship [counsel, talks] together; we walked [in company, with the throng] with the crowd [in company, as companions] into the house [temple] of God [the Almighty, our Lord]. word study 15 Let death [sudden and unexpected] seize them by surprise; let them go down [quickly, alive] to Sheol [the underworld, the place of the dead] alive, for evil [wickedness, moral corruption] is with them in their homes [dwelling places, midst of their families]. word study 16 But I [as for me, personally] call [cry out, make my prayer] to God [my Savior, the LORD], and the LORD [Yehovah, my Deliverer] saves [rescues, delivers] me. word study 17 Morning [evening], noon, and night [at noonday], I cry out [weep and groan, complain and moan] in distress [with sounds of grief], and He [the Lord] hears [listens to, heareth] my voice [my cry for help]. word study 18 He redeems [rescues, delivers] my soul [my whole being, inner self] in peace [quietness, tranquility] from the battle [war, conflict] waged against me, even though [for, because] many [a multitude, numerous] oppose [are against, resist] me. word study 19 God [the One enthroned forever, omnipotent] will hear [and answer, listen to] and humiliate [afflict, bring low] them— the One [who abideth of old, eternal] enthroned [reigning, in power] for the ages— Selah [pause, reflect] because they do not change [have no transformations, remain unchanged] and they have no [lack, are devoid of] fear [reverence, awe] of God [the Almighty, Creator]. word study 20 My companion [best friend, closest associate] attacks [puts forth his hands against, betrays] his friends [those at peace with him]; he violates [breaks, profanes] his covenant [agreement, promise]. word study 21 His speech [smooth as honey, soothing] is smooth as butter [oil], but war [or hatred, a state of hostility] is in his heart [the center of his being, his inner self]. His words [gentle as a summer breeze, calming] are softer than oil [or more gentle than a calm sea], yet they are swords [sharp as a razor, cutting] unsheathed [or drawn, ready to strike]. word study 22 Cast your burden [troubles, cares] upon the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] and He will sustain [support, nourish] you; He will never [at any time, for all eternity] let the righteous [upright, just] be shaken [moved, disturbed]. word study 23 But You, O God [Elohim, the supreme God], will bring them down [throw, cast away] to the Pit [underworld, abyss] of destruction [corruption, ruin]; men of bloodshed [bloody, bloodthirsty] and deceit [lies, falsehood] will not live out [reach, attain] half their days [lifetime, years]. But I will trust [have faith, rely] in You. word study