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A Prayer About a False Friend

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A ·maskil [skillful psalm; meditation] of David.

55 God, ·listen [L give ear] to my prayer
    and do not ·ignore [hide from] my ·cry for help [supplication].
Pay attention to me and answer me.
    ·I am troubled and [My cares give me no peace and I am] upset
by ·what the enemy says [L the voice/sound of my enemy]
    and ·how the wicked look at me [before the stares/or because of the afflictions of my enemy].
They bring troubles down on me,
    and in anger they ·attack [persecute; or hate] me.

·I am frightened inside [L My heart writhes inside me];
    the terror of death has ·attacked [L fallen on] me.
·I am scared and shaking [Fear and trembling come on me],
    and ·terror [shuddering] ·grips [overwhelms] me.
I said, “·I wish [O that] I had wings like a dove.
    Then I would fly away and rest.
I would ·wander [flee] far away
    and stay in the ·desert [wilderness]. ·Selah [Interlude]
I would hurry to my place of escape,
    far away from the raging wind and ·storm [tempest].”

Lord, ·destroy [or frustrate; or check; or confuse; L swallow] and ·confuse [confound; L divide] their ·words [speech; or plans; L tongues; Gen. 11:1–9],
    because I see violence and ·fighting [strife; contention; accusation] in the city.
10 Day and night they are all around its walls,
    and evil and trouble are everywhere inside.
11 Destruction is ·everywhere in the city [L in its midst];
    ·trouble [oppression] and ·lying [deception] never leave its ·streets [public square].

12 It was not an enemy ·insulting [scorning; reproaching] me.
    I could ·stand [bear] that.
It was not someone who hated me who insulted me.
    I could hide from him.
13 But it is you, a person like me,
    my companion and good friend.
14 We had ·a good friendship [sweet fellowship together]
    and walked ·together [or noisily; or quietly; or with the crowd] to God’s ·Temple [L house].

15 Let death ·take away [L rise up on] ·my enemies [L them].
    Let them ·die while they are still young [L go down to the grave/underworld/Sheol while they are living]
    because evil ·lives with them [L is their home within them].
16 But I will call to God for help,
    and the Lord will ·save me [give me victory].
17 Morning, noon, and ·night [L evening] I ·am troubled and upset [sigh and moan],
    but he will listen to ·me [L my voice].
18 Many are against me,
    but he ·keeps me safe [L redeems/ransoms me whole/in peace] in battle.
19 God who ·lives forever [or is enthroned from of old]
    will hear me and ·punish [L humble] them. ·Selah [Interlude]

But they will not change;
they do not fear God [Prov. 1:7].

20 ·The one who was my friend attacks his friends [L He sends his hand against his friend]
    and ·breaks [violates; profanes] his ·promises [covenant; treaty].
21 His words are ·slippery like [L smoother than] butter,
    but war is in his heart.
His words are ·smoother [softer] than oil,
    but they cut like ·knives [unsheathed swords; Prov. 5:3–4].

22 ·Give [L Cast; Throw] your ·worries [burden; L that which he has given you] to the Lord,
    and he will ·take care of [sustain] you.
    He will never let ·good [righteous] people ·down [L be moved].
23 But, God, you will bring down
    the wicked to the ·grave [deepest pit; L pit of corruption].
Murderers and ·liars [deceivers] will ·live
    only half a lifetime [L not live half their days].
But I will ·trust [have confidence] in you.

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