Psalm 55 :: Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Prayer for the Destruction of the Treacherous.

Psa 55:1To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication!

Psa 55:2

Psa 55:2Attend to me, and answer me; I am overcome by my trouble. I am distraught

Psa 55:3

Psa 55:3by the noise of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they bring trouble upon me, and in anger they cherish enmity against me.

Psa 55:4

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

Psa 55:5

Psa 55:5Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me.

Psa 55:6

Psa 55:6And I say, "O that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest;

Psa 55:7

Psa 55:7yea, I would wander afar, I would lodge in the wilderness, Selah

Psa 55:8

Psa 55:8I would haste to find me a shelter from the raging wind and tempest."

Psa 55:9

Psa 55:9Destroy their plans, O Lord, confuse their tongues; for I see violence and strife in the city.

Psa 55:10

Psa 55:10Day and night they go around it on its walls; and mischief and trouble are within it,

Psa 55:11

Psa 55:11ruin is in its midst; oppression and fraud do not depart from its market place.

Psa 55:12

Psa 55:12It is not an enemy who taunts me--then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me-- then I could hide from him.

Psa 55:13

Psa 55:13But it is you, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend.

Psa 55:14

Psa 55:14We used to hold sweet converse together; within God's house we walked in fellowship.

Psa 55:15

Psa 55:15Let death come upon them; let them go down to Sheol alive; let them go away in terror into their graves.

Psa 55:16

Psa 55:16But I call upon God; and the LORD will save me.

Psa 55:17

Psa 55:17Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he will hear my voice.

Psa 55:18

Psa 55:18He will deliver my soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against me.

Psa 55:19

Psa 55:19God will give ear, and humble them, he who is enthroned from of old; because they keep no law, and do not fear God. Selah

Psa 55:20

Psa 55:20My companion stretched out his hand against his friends, he violated his covenant.

Psa 55:21

Psa 55:21His speech was smoother than butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.

Psa 55:22

Psa 55:22Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

Psa 55:23

Psa 55:23But thou, O God, wilt cast them down into the lowest pit; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in thee.

Downloaded from the Oxford Text Archive and used with permission. The following header is required to be posted:

Source: Transcribed from: The Holy Bible: Revised Standard Version containing the Old and New Testaments, translated from the original tongues: being the version set forth A.D. 1611, revised A.D. 1881-1885 and A.D. 1901: compared with the most ancient authorities and revised A.D. 1946-52. — 2nd ed. of New Testament A.D. 1971. There should be enough in the rest of the description to identify the text.

Language: English

Availability: Freely available for non-commercial use provided that this header is included in its entirety with any copy distributed.

Psalm 55 :: Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Prayer for the Destruction of the Treacherous.

Pericope