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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)Selah
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 themSelah
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)Selah
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)Selah

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

  1. Psalm 55:1 Lit hide Yourself from
  2. Psalm 55:3 Or threat, or oppression
  3. Psalm 55:3 LXX, Syr, Sym; MT reads they cause me to totter
  4. Psalm 55:6 Lit “Who will give to me . . . dove?
  5. Psalm 55:9 Or destroy
  6. Psalm 55:9 Lit and divide their tongue
  7. Psalm 55:21 Some Hb mss, Sym, Syr, Tg, Jer read His speech is smoother than butter
  8. Psalm 56:1 Possibly a tune
  9. Psalm 56:2 Or many fight against me, O exalted One, or many fight against me from the heights
  10. Psalm 56:6 Or They attack
  11. Psalm 56:8 Or misery
  12. Psalm 56:12 Lit On me the vows
  13. Psalm 57:1 Possibly a tune
  14. Psalm 57:2 Or who avenges me
  15. Psalm 57:8 Lit glory
Listen to Psalm 55-57
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Psalm 55-57
New International Version

Psalm 55[a]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil[b] of David.

1 Listen to my prayer, O God,
    do not ignore my plea;(A)
2     hear me and answer me.(B)
My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught(C)
3     because of what my enemy is saying,
    because of the threats of the wicked;
for they bring down suffering on me(D)
    and assail(E) me in their anger.(F)

4 My heart is in anguish(G) within me;
    the terrors(H) of death have fallen on me.
5 Fear and trembling(I) have beset me;
    horror(J) has overwhelmed me.
6 I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!
    I would fly away and be at rest.
7 I would flee far away
    and stay in the desert;[c](K)
8 I would hurry to my place of shelter,(L)
    far from the tempest and storm.(M)”

9 Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words,(N)
    for I see violence and strife(O) in the city.(P)
10 Day and night they prowl(Q) about on its walls;
    malice and abuse are within it.
11 Destructive forces(R) are at work in the city;
    threats and lies(S) never leave its streets.

12 If an enemy were insulting me,
    I could endure it;
if a foe were rising against me,
    I could hide.
13 But it is you, a man like myself,
    my companion, my close friend,(T)
14 with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship(U)
    at the house of God,(V)
as we walked about
    among the worshipers.

15 Let death take my enemies by surprise;(W)
    let them go down alive to the realm of the dead,(X)
    for evil finds lodging among them.

16 As for me, I call to God,
    and the Lord saves me.
17 Evening,(Y) morning(Z) and noon(AA)
    I cry out in distress,
    and he hears my voice.
18 He rescues me unharmed
    from the battle waged against me,
    even though many oppose me.
19 God, who is enthroned from of old,(AB)
    who does not change—
he will hear(AC) them and humble them,
    because they have no fear of God.(AD)

20 My companion attacks his friends;(AE)
    he violates his covenant.(AF)
21 His talk is smooth as butter,(AG)
    yet war is in his heart;
his words are more soothing than oil,(AH)
    yet they are drawn swords.(AI)

22 Cast your cares on the Lord
    and he will sustain you;(AJ)
he will never let
    the righteous be shaken.(AK)
23 But you, God, will bring down the wicked
    into the pit(AL) of decay;
the bloodthirsty and deceitful(AM)
    will not live out half their days.(AN)

But as for me, I trust in you.(AO)

Psalm 56[d]

For the director of music. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” Of David. A miktam.[e] When the Philistines had seized him in Gath.

1 Be merciful to me,(AP) my God,
    for my enemies are in hot pursuit;(AQ)
    all day long they press their attack.(AR)
2 My adversaries pursue me all day long;(AS)
    in their pride many are attacking me.(AT)

3 When I am afraid,(AU) I put my trust in you.(AV)
4     In God, whose word I praise—(AW)
in God I trust and am not afraid.(AX)
    What can mere mortals do to me?(AY)

5 All day long they twist my words;(AZ)
    all their schemes are for my ruin.
6 They conspire,(BA) they lurk,
    they watch my steps,(BB)
    hoping to take my life.(BC)
7 Because of their wickedness do not[f] let them escape;(BD)
    in your anger, God, bring the nations down.(BE)

8 Record my misery;
    list my tears on your scroll[g](BF)—
    are they not in your record?(BG)
9 Then my enemies will turn back(BH)
    when I call for help.(BI)
    By this I will know that God is for me.(BJ)

10 In God, whose word I praise,
    in the Lord, whose word I praise—
11 in God I trust and am not afraid.
    What can man do to me?

12 I am under vows(BK) to you, my God;
    I will present my thank offerings to you.
13 For you have delivered me from death(BL)
    and my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before God
    in the light of life.(BM)

Psalm 57[h](BN)

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.[i] When he had fled from Saul into the cave.(BO)

1 Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,
    for in you I take refuge.(BP)
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings(BQ)
    until the disaster has passed.(BR)

2 I cry out to God Most High,
    to God, who vindicates me.(BS)
3 He sends from heaven and saves me,(BT)
    rebuking those who hotly pursue me—[j](BU)
    God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.(BV)

4 I am in the midst of lions;(BW)
    I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—
men whose teeth are spears and arrows,
    whose tongues are sharp swords.(BX)

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
    let your glory be over all the earth.(BY)

6 They spread a net for my feet(BZ)—
    I was bowed down(CA) in distress.
They dug a pit(CB) in my path—
    but they have fallen into it themselves.(CC)

7 My heart, O God, is steadfast,
    my heart is steadfast;(CD)
    I will sing and make music.
8 Awake, my soul!
    Awake, harp and lyre!(CE)
    I will awaken the dawn.

9 I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
    I will sing of you among the peoples.
10 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
    your faithfulness reaches to the skies.(CF)

11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;(CG)
    let your glory be over all the earth.(CH)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 55:1 In Hebrew texts 55:1-23 is numbered 55:2-24.
  2. Psalm 55:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  3. Psalm 55:7 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and in the middle of verse 19.
  4. Psalm 56:1 In Hebrew texts 56:1-13 is numbered 56:2-14.
  5. Psalm 56:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  6. Psalm 56:7 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text does not have do not.
  7. Psalm 56:8 Or misery; / put my tears in your wineskin
  8. Psalm 57:1 In Hebrew texts 57:1-11 is numbered 57:2-12.
  9. Psalm 57:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  10. Psalm 57:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 6.
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Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

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