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55:1  For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A ·maskil [skillful psalm; meditation] of David. God, ·listen [L give ear] to my prayer and do not ·ignore [hide from] my ·cry for help [supplication].
55:2  Pay attention to me and answer me. ·I am troubled and [My cares give me no peace and I am] upset
55:3  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.
55:4  ·I am frightened inside [L My heart writhes inside me]; the terror of death has ·attacked [L fallen on] me.
55:5  ·I am scared and shaking [Fear and trembling come on me], and ·terror [shuddering] ·grips [overwhelms] me.
55:6  I said, “·I wish [O that] I had wings like a dove. Then I would fly away and rest.
55:7  I would ·wander [flee] far away and stay in the ·desert [wilderness]. ·Selah [Interlude]
55:8  I would hurry to my place of escape, far away from the raging wind and ·storm [tempest].”
55:9  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.
55:10  Day and night they are all around its walls, and evil and trouble are everywhere inside.
55:11  Destruction is ·everywhere in the city [L in its midst]; ·trouble [oppression] and ·lying [deception] never leave its ·streets [public square].
55:12  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.
55:13  But it is you, a person like me, my companion and good friend.
55:14  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].
55:15  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].
55:16  But I will call to God for help, and the Lord will ·save me [give me victory].
55:17  Morning, noon, and ·night [L evening] I ·am troubled and upset [sigh and moan], but he will listen to ·me [L my voice].
55:18  Many are against me, but he ·keeps me safe [L redeems/ransoms me whole/in peace] in battle.
55:19  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].
55:20  ·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].
55:21  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].
55:22  ·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].
55:23  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.