Psalms 55 — AAB

Cast Your Burden upon the LORD

For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Maskil⁺of David.

55Verse 1Listen 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 meand 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 peacefrom the battle waged against me,
even though many oppose me.^{Verse 19}God will hear and humiliate them—the One enthroned for the ages—Selahbecause they do not changeand 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 LORDand He will sustain you;
He will never let the righteous be shaken.^{Verse 23}But You, O God, will bring them downto the Pit of destruction;men of bloodshed and deceitwill not live out half their days.
But I will trust in You.