Psalm 55 :: New International Version (NIV)

Psa 55:1

Psa 55:1 [fn]For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil[fn] of David. Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea;

Psa 55:2

Psa 55:2hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught

Psa 55:3

Psa 55:3because of what my enemy is saying, because of the threats of the wicked; for they bring down suffering on me and assail me in their anger.

Psa 55:4

Psa 55:4My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen on me.

Psa 55:5

Psa 55:5Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me.

Psa 55:6

Psa 55:6I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.

Psa 55:7

Psa 55:7I would flee far away and stay in the desert;[fn]

Psa 55:8

Psa 55:8I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.”

Psa 55:9

Psa 55:9Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words, for I see violence and strife in the city.

Psa 55:10

Psa 55:10Day and night they prowl about on its walls; malice and abuse are within it.

Psa 55:11

Psa 55:11Destructive forces are at work in the city; threats and lies never leave its streets.

Psa 55:12

Psa 55:12If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were rising against me, I could hide.

Psa 55:13

Psa 55:13But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend,

Psa 55:14

Psa 55:14with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship at the house of God, as we walked about among the worshipers.

Psa 55:15

Psa 55:15Let death take my enemies by surprise; let them go down alive to the realm of the dead, for evil finds lodging among them.

Psa 55:16

Psa 55:16As for me, I call to God, and the LORD saves me.

Psa 55:17

Psa 55:17Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice.

Psa 55:18

Psa 55:18He rescues me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me.

Psa 55:19

Psa 55:19God, who is enthroned from of old, who does not change— he will hear them and humble them, because they have no fear of God.

Psa 55:20

Psa 55:20My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.

Psa 55:21

Psa 55:21His talk is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords.

Psa 55:22

Psa 55:22Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.

Psa 55:23

Psa 55:23But you, God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of decay; the bloodthirsty and deceitful will not live out half their days. But as for me, I trust in you.

See the NIV Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).

NIV Footnotes

(55:1)

In Hebrew texts 55:1-23 is numbered 55:2-24.

(55:1)

Title: Probably a literary or musical term

(55:7)

The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and in the middle of verse 19.

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