Psalm 55-57
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Psalm 55
Betrayal by a Friend
For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A Davidic Maskil.
1 God, listen to my prayer
and do not ignore[a] my plea for help.(A)
2 Pay attention to me and answer me.(B)
I am restless and in turmoil with my complaint,(C)
3 because of the enemy’s voice,
because of the pressure[b] of the wicked.
For they bring down disaster on me[c]
and harass me in anger.(D)
4 My heart shudders within me;(E)
terrors of death sweep over me.
5 Fear and trembling grip me;
horror has overwhelmed me.(F)
6 I said, “If only I had[d] wings like a dove!
I would fly away and find rest.(G)
7 How far away I would flee;
I would stay in the wilderness.(H)
8 I would hurry to my shelter
from the raging wind and the storm.”(I)
9 Lord, confuse[e] and confound their speech,[f](J)
for I see violence and strife in the city;
10 day and night they make the rounds on its walls.
Crime and trouble are within it;(K)
11 destruction is inside it;
oppression and deceit never leave its marketplace.(L)
12 Now 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.
13 But it is you, a man who is my peer,
my companion and good friend!(M)
14 We used to have close fellowship;
we walked with the crowd into the house of God.(N)
15 Let death take them by surprise;(O)
let them go down to Sheol alive,
because evil is in their homes and within them.(P)
16 But I call to God,
and the Lord will save me.(Q)
17 I complain and groan morning, noon, and night,(R)
and He hears my voice.(S)
18 Though many are against me,
He will redeem me from my battle unharmed.(T)
19 God, the One enthroned from long ago,(U)
will hear and will humiliate them
because they do not change
and do not fear God.(V)
20 My friend(W) acts violently
against those at peace with him;(X)
he violates his covenant.(Y)
21 His buttery words are smooth,[g]
but war is in his heart.
His words are softer than oil,
but they are drawn swords.(Z)
22 Cast your burden on the Lord,
and He will sustain you;(AA)
He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.(AB)
23 God, You will bring them down
to the Pit of destruction;(AC)
men of bloodshed and treachery
will not live out half their days.(AD)
But I will trust in You.(AE)
Psalm 56
A Call for God’s Protection
For the choir director: according to “A Silent Dove Far Away.”[h] A Davidic Miktam. When the Philistines seized him in Gath.(AF)
1 Be gracious to me, God, for man tramples me;
he fights and oppresses me all day long.
2 My adversaries trample me all day,
for many arrogantly fight against me.[i](AG)
3 When I am afraid,
I will trust in You.(AH)
4 In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I will not fear.
What can man do to me?(AI)
5 They twist my words all day long;
all their thoughts against me are evil.(AJ)
6 They stir up strife,[j] they lurk;
they watch my steps
while they wait to take my life.(AK)
7 Will they escape in spite of such sin?
God, bring down the nations in wrath.(AL)
8 You Yourself have recorded my wanderings.[k]
Put my tears in Your bottle.
Are they not in Your records?(AM)
9 Then my enemies will retreat on the day when I call.(AN)
This I know: God is for me.(AO)
10 In God, whose word I praise,
in the Lord, whose word I praise,
11 in God I trust; I will not fear.
What can man do to me?(AP)
12 I am obligated by vows[l] to You, God;
I will make my thank offerings to You.(AQ)
13 For You delivered me from death,
even my feet from stumbling,
to walk before God in the light of life.(AR)
Psalm 57
Praise for God’s Protection
For the choir director: “Do Not Destroy.”[m] A Davidic Miktam. When he fled before Saul into the cave.(AS)
1 Be gracious to me, God, be gracious to me,
for I take refuge in You.
I will seek refuge in the shadow of Your wings
until danger passes.(AT)
2 I call to God Most High,
to God who fulfills His purpose for me.[n](AU)
3 He reaches down from heaven and saves me,
challenging the one who tramples me.(AV)
God sends His faithful love and truth.(AW)
4 I am surrounded by lions;
I lie down with those who devour men.
Their teeth are spears and arrows;
their tongues are sharp swords.(AX)
5 God, be exalted above the heavens;
let Your glory be over the whole earth.(AY)
6 They prepared a net for my steps;
I was despondent.
They dug a pit ahead of me,
but they fell into it!(AZ)
7 My heart is confident, God, my heart is confident.
I will sing; I will sing praises.(BA)
8 Wake up, my soul![o]
Wake up, harp and lyre!
I will wake up the dawn.(BB)
9 I will praise You, Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to You among the nations.(BC)
10 For Your faithful love is as high as the heavens;
Your faithfulness reaches the clouds.(BD)
11 God, be exalted above the heavens;(BE)
let Your glory be over the whole earth.(BF)
Footnotes
- Psalm 55:1 Lit hide Yourself from
- Psalm 55:3 Or threat, or oppression
- Psalm 55:3 LXX, Syr, Sym; MT reads they cause me to totter
- Psalm 55:6 Lit “Who will give to me . . . dove?
- Psalm 55:9 Or destroy
- Psalm 55:9 Lit and divide their tongue
- Psalm 55:21 Some Hb mss, Sym, Syr, Tg, Jer read His speech is smoother than butter
- Psalm 56:1 Possibly a tune
- Psalm 56:2 Or many fight against me, O exalted One, or many fight against me from the heights
- Psalm 56:6 Or They attack
- Psalm 56:8 Or misery
- Psalm 56:12 Lit On me the vows
- Psalm 57:1 Possibly a tune
- Psalm 57:2 Or who avenges me
- Psalm 57:8 Lit glory
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