Psalm 55-56New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 55

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



1
Listen to my prayer, O God,
do not ignore my plea;

2
hear me and answer me.
My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught

3
because of what my enemy is saying,
because of the threats of the wicked;
for they bring down suffering on me
and assail me in their anger.



4
My heart is in anguish within me;
the terrors of death have fallen on me.

5
Fear and trembling have beset me;
horror 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;

8
I would hurry to my place of shelter,
far from the tempest and storm.”



9
Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words,
for I see violence and strife in the city.

10
Day and night they prowl about on its walls;
malice and abuse are within it.

11
Destructive forces are at work in the city;
threats and lies 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,

14
with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship
at the house of God,
as we walked about
among the worshipers.



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



16
As for me, I call to God,
and the Lord saves me.

17
Evening, morning and noon
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,
who does not change—
he will hear them and humble them,
because they have no fear of God.



20
My companion attacks his friends;
he violates his covenant.

21
His talk is smooth as butter,
yet war is in his heart;
his words are more soothing than oil,
yet they are drawn swords.



22
Cast your cares on the Lord
and he will sustain you;
he will never let
the righteous be shaken.

23
But you, God, will bring down the wicked
into the pit of decay;
the bloodthirsty and deceitful
will not live out half their days.


But as for me, I trust in you.

Psalm 56

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



1
Be merciful to me, my God,
for my enemies are in hot pursuit;
all day long they press their attack.

2
My adversaries pursue me all day long;
in their pride many are attacking me.



3
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

4
In God, whose word I praise—
in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?



5
All day long they twist my words;
all their schemes are for my ruin.

6
They conspire, they lurk,
they watch my steps,
hoping to take my life.

7
Because of their wickedness do not let them escape;
in your anger, God, bring the nations down.



8
Record my misery;
list my tears on your scroll —
are they not in your record?

9
Then my enemies will turn back
when I call for help.
By this I will know that God is for me.



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 to you, my God;
I will present my thank offerings to you.

13
For you have delivered me from death
and my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before God
in the light of life.