| 55:1 |
Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea; |
| 55:2 |
hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught |
| 55:3 |
at the voice of the enemy, at the stares of the wicked; for they bring down suffering upon me and revile me in their anger. |
| 55:4 |
My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death assail me. |
| 55:5 |
Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me. |
| 55:6 |
I said, "Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest-- |
| 55:7 |
I would flee far away and stay in the desert; Selah |
| 55:8 |
I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm." |
| 55:9 |
Confuse the wicked, O Lord, confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city. |
| 55:10 |
Day and night they prowl about on its walls; malice and abuse are within it. |
| 55:11 |
Destructive forces are at work in the city; threats and lies never leave its streets. |
| 55:12 |
If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were raising himself against me, I could hide from him. |
| 55:13 |
But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, |
| 55:14 |
with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship as we walked with the throng at the house of God. |
| 55:15 |
Let death take my enemies by surprise; let them go down alive to the grave, for evil finds lodging among them. |
| 55:16 |
But I call to God, and the LORD saves me. |
| 55:17 |
Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. |
| 55:18 |
He ransoms me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me. |
| 55:19 |
God, who is enthroned forever, will hear them and afflict them--Selah men who never change their ways and have no fear of God. |
| 55:20 |
My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant. |
| 55:21 |
His speech is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords. |
| 55:22 |
Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. |
| 55:23 |
But you, O God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of corruption; bloodthirsty and deceitful men will not live out half their days. But as for me, I trust in you. |
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