A modern English translation drawn directly from the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. Translated word-for-word where possible, by a committee with scholarly oversight.
Uses the same source texts as the ESV, NASB, and most academic Bibles, including the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia and the Nestle-Aland critical edition.
Psalm 55
Chapter summary coming soon.
Verse 1. For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Maskil of David. Listen to my prayer, O God, and do not ignore my plea.
Verse 2. Attend to me and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and distraught
Verse 3. at the voice of the enemy, at the pressure of the wicked. For they bring down disaster upon me and resent me in their anger.
Verse 4. My heart pounds within me, and the terrors of death assail me.
Verse 5. Fear and trembling grip me, and horror has overwhelmed me.
Verse 6. I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest.
Verse 7. How far away I would flee! In the wilderness I would remain. Selah
Verse 8. I would hurry to my shelter, far from this raging tempest.”
Verse 9. O Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city.
Verse 10. Day and night they encircle the walls, while malice and trouble lie within.
Verse 11. Destruction is within; oppression and deceit never leave the streets.
Verse 12. For it is not an enemy who insults me; that I could endure. It is not a foe who rises against me; from him I could hide.
Verse 13. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion and close friend.
Verse 14. We shared sweet fellowship together; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.
Verse 15. Let death seize them by surprise; let them go down to Sheol alive, for evil is with them in their homes.
Verse 16. But I call to God, and the LORD saves me.
Verse 17. Morning, noon, and night, I cry out in distress, and He hears my voice.
Verse 18. He redeems my soul in peace from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me.
Verse 19. God will hear and humiliate them—the One enthroned for the ages—Selah because they do not change and they have no fear of God.
Verse 20. My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.
Verse 21. His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed.
Verse 22. Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.
Verse 23. But You, O God, will bring them down to the Pit of destruction; men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You.