Prayer for the Destruction of the Treacherous.

1 For the choir director; on stringed instruments. A (a)Maskil of David.
(A)Give ear to my prayer, O God;
And (B)do not hide Yourself from my supplication.
2
Give (C)heed to me and answer me;
I am restless in my (D)complaint and (b)(E)am surely distracted,
3
Because of the voice of the enemy,
Because of the (F)pressure of the wicked;
For they (G)bring down (c)trouble upon me
And in anger they (H)bear a grudge against me.
4
My (I)heart is in anguish within me,
And the terrors of (J)death have fallen upon me.
5
Fear and (K)trembling come upon me,
And (d)(L)horror has overwhelmed me.
6
I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and (e)(M)be at rest.
7
“Behold, I would wander far away,
I would (N)lodge in the wilderness. (f)Selah.
8
“I would hasten to my place of refuge
From the (O)stormy wind and tempest.”
9
(g)Confuse, O Lord, (P)divide their tongues,
For I have seen (Q)violence and strife in the city.
10
Day and night they go around her upon her walls,
And iniquity and mischief are in her midst.
11
(R)Destruction is in her midst;
(S)Oppression and deceit do not depart from her (h)streets.
12
For it is (T)not an enemy who reproaches me,
Then I could bear it;
Nor is it one who hates me who (U)has exalted himself against me,
Then I could hide myself from him.
13
But it is you, a man (i)my equal,
My (V)companion and my (j)(W)familiar friend;
14
We who had sweet (k)fellowship together
(X)Walked in the house of God in the throng.
15
Let (l)death come (Y)deceitfully upon them;
Let them (Z)go down alive to (m)Sheol,
For evil is in their dwelling, in their midst.
16
As for me, I shall (AA)call upon God,
And the Lord will save me.
17
(AB)Evening and (AC)morning and at (AD)noon, I will complain and murmur,
And He will hear my voice.
18
He will (AE)redeem my soul in peace (n)from the battle which is against me,
For they are (AF)many who strive with me.
19
God will (AG)hear and (o)answer them—
Even the one (AH)who (p)sits enthroned from of old— Selah.
With whom there (q)is no change,
And who (AI)do not fear God.
20
He has put forth his hands against (AJ)those who were at peace with him;
He has (r)(AK)violated his covenant.
21
His (s)speech was (AL)smoother than butter,
But his heart was war;
His words were (AM)softer than oil,
Yet they were drawn (AN)swords.
22
(AO)Cast (t)your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you;
(AP)He will never allow the righteous to (u)(AQ)be shaken.
23
But You, O God, will bring them down to the (v)(AR)pit of destruction;
(AS)Men of bloodshed and deceit will (AT)not live out half their days.
But I will (AU)trust in You.

Footnotes:

a. Psalm 55:1: ['Possibly ', Contemplative, ', or ', Didactic, ', or ', Skillful Psalm]
b. Psalm 55:2: ['Or ', I must moan]
c. Psalm 55:3: ['Or ', wickedness]
d. Psalm 55:5: ['Lit ', shuddering]
e. Psalm 55:6: ['Lit ', settle down]
f. Psalm 55:7: [Selah, ' may mean: ', Pause, Crescendo, ' or ', Musical interlude]
g. Psalm 55:9: ['Lit ', Swallow up]
h. Psalm 55:11: ['Or ', plaza]
i. Psalm 55:13: ['Lit ', according to my valuation]
j. Psalm 55:13: ['Or ', acquaintance]
k. Psalm 55:14: ['Lit ', counsel, '; or ', intimacy]
l. Psalm 55:15: ['Another reading is ', desolations be upon them]
m. Psalm 55:15: ['I.e. the nether world']
n. Psalm 55:18: ['Or ', so that none may approach me]
o. Psalm 55:19: ['Or ', afflict]
p. Psalm 55:19: ['Or ', abides from]
q. Psalm 55:19: ['Lit ', are no changes]
r. Psalm 55:20: ['Lit ', profaned]
s. Psalm 55:21: ['Lit ', mouth]
t. Psalm 55:22: ['Or ', what He has given you]
u. Psalm 55:22: ['Or ', totter]
v. Psalm 55:23: ['Or ', lowest pit]

Cross references:

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