Psalms 55

Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.

1God, please listen to my prayer. Do not turn away when I beg you for help.

2Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;

2Pay attention to me and answer me. My worry will not let me rest. I cry out loud.

3Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.

3My enemies shout at me. Cruel people push me down. They dump trouble on me and hate me.

4My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.

4My heart hurts deep inside me. I am so afraid that I feel close to dying.

5Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.

5Fear and shaking have come over me. Horror has covered me all over.

6And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.

6I said, "I wish I had wings like a dove! Then I would fly away and rest."

7Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.

7"I would fly far, far away. I would stay out in the empty desert." Selah

Note"Selah" is a word written in the music of this song. Nobody today knows for sure what it meant. It may have been a pause or a signal to the singers.

8I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.

8"I would hurry to a safe hiding place, far from this wild storm."

9Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

9Lord, mix up their words so their plans fall apart. I see fighting and meanness in the city.

10Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.

10Day and night they walk around on the city walls. Inside the city there is harm and sadness.

11Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.

11Bad things happen inside the city. Lies and tricks never leave its streets.

12For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:

12It was not an enemy who made fun of me. I could have put up with that. It was not someone who already hated me. I could have hidden from him.

13But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.

13It was you. You were a man like me. You were my friend and my guide.

14We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.

14We used to talk together and enjoy it. We walked with the crowd to God's house.

15Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.

15Let death come to them by surprise. Let them go down alive to the place of the dead. Evil lives right inside their homes.

NoteThe King James Bible says "go down quick into hell." Here "quick" is an old word for "alive." The word for "hell" is Sheol, the place where dead people go.

16As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.

16But I will call out to God. And the LORD will save me.

17Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

17Evening, morning, and noon I will pray. I will cry out, and he will hear my voice.

18He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.

18He brings me back safe from the battle against me. Many people fight me, but he keeps me at peace.

19God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.

19God will hear them and bring them down low. He has been King since long ago. Selah They never change their ways, so they do not respect God.

20He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.

20My friend attacked the people who were kind to him. He broke the promise he made.

21The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.

21His words were smooth like butter, but he wanted a fight. His words were soft like oil, but they cut like swords.

22Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

22Give your heavy load to the LORD. He will hold you up. He will never let good people fall over.

NoteThe King James Bible says God will never "suffer" the righteous to be moved. In old English, "suffer" means "allow."

23But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.

23But God, you will send those men down into the deep pit. Men who kill and lie will not live even half a life. But I will trust you.