Psalm 55 :: New Living Translation (NLT)

Psa 55:1

Psa 55:1For the choir director: A psalm[fn] of David, to be accompanied by stringed instruments.

Listen to my prayer, O God.
Do not ignore my cry for help!

Psa 55:2

Psa 55:2Please listen and answer me,
for I am overwhelmed by my troubles.

Psa 55:3

Psa 55:3My enemies shout at me,
making loud and wicked threats.
They bring trouble on me
and angrily hunt me down.

Psa 55:4

Psa 55:4My heart pounds in my chest.
The terror of death assaults me.

Psa 55:5

Psa 55:5Fear and trembling overwhelm me,
and I can’t stop shaking.

Psa 55:6

Psa 55:6Oh, that I had wings like a dove;
then I would fly away and rest!

Psa 55:7

Psa 55:7I would fly far away
to the quiet of the wilderness.
Interlude

Psa 55:8

Psa 55:8How quickly I would escape—
far from this wild storm of hatred.

Psa 55:9

Psa 55:9Confuse them, Lord, and frustrate their plans,
for I see violence and conflict in the city.

Psa 55:10

Psa 55:10Its walls are patrolled day and night against invaders,
but the real danger is wickedness within the city.

Psa 55:11

Psa 55:11Everything is falling apart;
threats and cheating are rampant in the streets.

Psa 55:12

Psa 55:12It is not an enemy who taunts me—
I could bear that.
It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me—
I could have hidden from them.

Psa 55:13

Psa 55:13Instead, it is you—my equal,
my companion and close friend.

Psa 55:14

Psa 55:14What good fellowship we once enjoyed
as we walked together to the house of God.

Psa 55:15

Psa 55:15Let death stalk my enemies;
let the grave[fn] swallow them alive,
for evil makes its home within them.

Psa 55:16

Psa 55:16But I will call on God,
and the LORD will rescue me.

Psa 55:17

Psa 55:17Morning, noon, and night
I cry out in my distress,
and the LORD hears my voice.

Psa 55:18

Psa 55:18He ransoms me and keeps me safe
from the battle waged against me,
though many still oppose me.

Psa 55:19

Psa 55:19God, who has ruled forever,
will hear me and humble them.
Interlude
For my enemies refuse to change their ways;
they do not fear God.

Psa 55:20

Psa 55:20As for my companion, he betrayed his friends;
he broke his promises.

Psa 55:21

Psa 55:21His words are as smooth as butter,
but in his heart is war.
His words are as soothing as lotion,
but underneath are daggers!

Psa 55:22

Psa 55:22Give your burdens to the LORD,
and he will take care of you.
He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

Psa 55:23

Psa 55:23But you, O God, will send the wicked
down to the pit of destruction.
Murderers and liars will die young,
but I am trusting you to save me.

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

NLT Footnotes

(55:1)

Hebrew maskil. This may be a literary or musical term.

(55:15)

Hebrew let Sheol.

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For more information on this translation, see the NLT Preface.