For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments; a well-written song 2 by David.
55:1 Listen, O God, to my prayer!
Do not ignore 3 my appeal for mercy!
55:2 Pay attention to me and answer me!
I am so upset 4 and distressed, 5 I am beside myself, 6
55:3 because of what the enemy says, 7
and because of how the wicked 8 pressure me, 9
for they hurl trouble 10 down upon me 11
and angrily attack me.
55:4 My heart beats violently 12 within me;
the horrors of death overcome me. 13
55:5 Fear and panic overpower me; 14
terror overwhelms 15 me.
55:6 I say, 16 “I wish I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and settle in a safe place!
55:7 Look, I will escape to a distant place;
I will stay in the wilderness. (Selah)
55:8 I will hurry off to a place that is safe
from the strong wind 17 and the gale.”
55:9 Confuse them, 18 O Lord!
Frustrate their plans! 19
For I see violence and conflict in the city.
55:10 Day and night they walk around on its walls, 20
while wickedness and destruction 21 are within it.
55:11 Disaster is within it;
violence 22 and deceit do not depart from its public square.
55:12 Indeed, 23 it is not an enemy who insults me,
or else I could bear it;
it is not one who hates me who arrogantly taunts me, 24
or else I could hide from him.
55:13 But it is you, 25 a man like me, 26
my close friend in whom I confided. 27
55:14 We would share personal thoughts with each other; 28
in God’s temple we would walk together among the crowd.
55:15 May death destroy them! 29
May they go down alive into Sheol! 30
For evil is in their dwelling place and in their midst.
55:16 As for me, I will call out to God,
and the Lord will deliver me.
55:17 During the evening, morning, and noontime
I will lament and moan, 31
and he will hear 32 me. 33