55  For the musical director: a song[fn] by David to be accompanied by stringed instruments.

1 Listen to my prayer, God,

and don’t ignore my request.

2 Pay attention to me and answer me.

I’m restless and overwhelmed by my problems

3 because of what my enemy is saying.

≈ Yes, because of the oppression by wicked people—

because they bring trouble on me and angrily persecute me.

4 My stomach has gone into a knot,

≈ and thoughts of death terrify me.

5 Fearfulness and trembling have hit me,

≈ and horror has overwhelmed me.

6 I said, “Oh, if only I had wings like a dove

→ then I’d fly away and find a peaceful place.

7 See, then I would wander far away.

≈ I would stay in the wilderness. (Instrumental break.)

8 I would hurry to a safe spot,

≈ away from the stormy wind and tempest.”

9 Confuse them, my master, so their words don’t make sense,

because I’ve seen violence and strife in the city.

10 Day and night they wander around the city walls.

Wickedness and trouble are in the middle of it.

11 Destruction is right there among it,

≈ and oppression and deceit never leave its marketplace,

12 because it wasn’t an enemy who taunted me. (Then I could have borne it.)

≈ It wasn’t my opponent who set himself up against me. (Then I would have hidden myself from him.)

13 But it was you—a man of similar status to myself.

≈ My companion and close friend.

14 We’d had good times together.

We’d walked among the crowd in God’s residence.

15 Let death hit them suddenly.

Let them go down alive to Sheol,

because wickedness is where they live, right among them.

16 As for me, I’ll trust God to help me,

≈ and Yahweh will save me.

17 I complain and moan morning, noon, and evening.

→ He will hear my voice.

18 He’ll peacefully rescue my life from those who approach me,

because there’s many who fight against me.

19 God, the one who’s ruled from eternity, will hear them and answer them with what they deserve. (Instrumental break.)

They never change, and they don’t respect God.

20 My friend took action against those who were at peace with him.

≈ He hasn’t respected the agreement that we had.

21 His mouth was as smooth as butter, but his heart was hostile.

His words were softer than oil, but they were actually drawn swords.

22 Give your problems to Yahweh, and he’ll sustain you.

He’ll never allow a righteous person to be toppled.

23 But you, God, will send the wicked down into the pit of destruction.

Bloodthirsty and deceitful people won’t live even half as long as others,

but I will trust in you.