Psalms 55:4-21
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 55
4My heart is in anguish within me, And the terrors of death have fallen upon me. 5Fear and trembling come upon me, And horror has overwhelmed me. 6I said, 'Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. 7Behold, I would flee far away, I would spend my nights in the wilderness. Selah 8I would hurry to my place of refuge From the stormy wind and heavy gale.' 9Confuse them, Lord, divide their tongues, For I have seen violence and strife in the city. 10Day and night they go around her upon her walls, And evil and harm are in her midst. 11Destruction is in her midst; Oppression and deceit do not depart from her streets. 12For it is not an enemy who taunts me, Then I could endure it; Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me, Then I could hide myself from him. 13But it is you, a man my equal, My companion and my confidant; 14We who had sweet fellowship together, Walked in the house of God among the commotion. 15 May death come deceitfully upon them; May they go down alive to Sheol, For evil is in their dwelling, in their midst. 16As for me, I shall call upon God, And the Lord will save me. 17Evening and morning and at noon, I will complain and moan, And He will hear my voice. 18He will redeem my soul in peace from the battle which is against me, For they are many who are aggressive toward me. 19God will hear and humiliate them— Even the one who sits enthroned from ancient times— Selah With whom there is no change, And who do not fear God. 20He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him; He has violated his covenant. 21His speech was smoother than butter, But his heart was war; His words were softer than oil, Yet they were drawn swords.King James Version
Chapter 55
4My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me. 5Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. 6And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. 7Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah. 8I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.
9Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
10Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.
11Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
12For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:
13But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.
14We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.
15Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.
16As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.
17Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
18He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.
19God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.
20He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.
21The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 55
4My heart shudders within me; terrors of death sweep over me. 5Fear and trembling grip me; horror has overwhelmed me. 6I said, "If only I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest.
8I would hurry to my shelter from the raging wind and the storm."
9Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city;
10day and night they make the rounds on its walls. Crime and trouble are within it;
11destruction is inside it; oppression and deceit never leave its marketplace.
12Now it is not an enemy who insults me -- otherwise I could bear it; it is not a foe who rises up against me -- otherwise I could hide from him.
13But it is you, a man who is my peer, my companion and good friend!
14We used to have close fellowship; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.
15Let death take them by surprise; let them go down to Sheol alive, because evil is in their homes and within them.
16But I call to God, and the Lord will save me.
17I complain and groan morning, noon, and night, and he hears my voice.
18Though many are against me, he will redeem me from my battle unharmed.
New Living Translation
Chapter 55
4My heart pounds in my chest. The terror of death assaults me. 5Fear and trembling overwhelm me, and I can’t stop shaking. 6Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest!
7I would fly far away to the quiet of the wilderness. Interlude
8How quickly I would escape — far from this wild storm of hatred.
9Confuse them, Lord, and frustrate their plans, for I see violence and conflict in the city.
10Its walls are patrolled day and night against invaders, but the real danger is wickedness within the city.
11Everything is falling apart; threats and cheating are rampant in the streets.
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.
13Instead, it is you — my equal, my companion and close friend.
14What good fellowship we once enjoyed as we walked together to the house of God.
15Let death stalk my enemies; let the grave swallow them alive, for evil makes its home within them.
English Standard Version
Chapter 55
4My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen upon me. 5Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me. 6And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest; 7yes, I would wander far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah 8I would hurry to find a shelter from the raging wind and tempest.” 9Destroy, O Lord, divide their tongues; for I see violence and strife in the city. 10Day and night they go around it on its walls, and iniquity and trouble are within it; 11ruin is in its midst; oppression and fraud do not depart from its marketplace. 12For it 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. 13But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. 14We used to take sweet counsel together; within God’s house we walked in the throng. 15Let death steal over them; let them go down to Sheol alive; for evil is in their dwelling place and in their heart. 16But I call to God, and the LORD will save me. 17Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice. 18He redeems my soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against me. 19God will give ear and humble them, he who is enthroned from of old, Selah because they do not change and do not fear God. 20My companion stretched out his hand against his friends; he violated his covenant. 21His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.New International Version
Chapter 55
4My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen on me. 5Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me. 6I said, 'Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. 7I would flee far away and stay in the desert;
8I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.'
9Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words, for I see violence and strife in the city.
10Day and night they prowl about on its walls; malice and abuse are within it.
11Destructive forces are at work in the city; threats and lies never leave its streets.
12If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were rising against me, I could hide.
13But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend,
15Let death take my enemies by surprise; let them go down alive to the realm of the dead, for evil finds lodging among them.
16As for me, I call to God, and the LORD saves me.
17Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice.
18He rescues me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me.
New King James Version
Chapter 55
4 My heart is severely pained within me, And the terrors of death have fallen upon me. 5Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, And horror has overwhelmed me. 6So I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.
8I would hasten my escape From the windy storm and tempest.”
9Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues, For I have seen violence and strife in the city.
10Day and night they go around it on its walls; Iniquity and trouble are also in the midst of it.
11Destruction is in its midst; Oppression and deceit do not depart from its streets.
12 For it is not an enemy who reproaches me; Then I could bear it. Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me; Then I could hide from him.
13But it was you, a man my equal, My companion and my acquaintance.
14We took sweet counsel together, And walked to the house of God in the throng.
15Let death seize them; Let them go down alive into hell, For wickedness is in their dwellings and among them.
16As for me, I will call upon God, And the Lord shall save me.
17 Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice.
18He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, For there were many against me.
19God will hear, and afflict them, Even He who abides from of old. Selah Because they do not change, Therefore they do not fear God.
20He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him; He has broken his covenant.
21 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, But war was in his heart; His words were softer than oil, Yet they were drawn swords.
