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55
For the music director. With stringed instruments. A psalm (maskil) of David.
1 God, please hear my prayer; don't ignore my cry for help!
2 Please listen, and give me an answer. I'm terribly troubled by my problems! I'm frantic!
3 For my enemies are screaming at me; the wicked are intimidating* Literally, “pressuring.” me. They rain down suffering on me, angrily assaulting me in their hatred.
4 My heart thumps in agony! Terrified, I feel I'm about to die!
5 I'm in a panic, trembling with fear; feelings of horror wash over me.
6 I tell myself, If only God would give me wings like a dove so I could fly away and be at peace!
7 I would fly far away to escape, and stay in the wilderness. Selah.
8 I would hurry to a place to hide, out of the wind, safe from the raging storm.
9 Confuse them, Lord! Muddle what they're saying, for I see violence and conflict in the city.
10 They patrol the city walls day and night, and wickedness and trouble are within the city.† This could mean that though the city walls are patrolled, the evil is inside the city; or that violence and conflict are symbolically the ones on patrol, so inevitably wickedness and trouble are within the city as well.
11 The ones causing destruction are inside the city; frauds and cheats are always on the streets.
12 The problem‡ Implied. is that it's not an enemy who mocks me—I could stand that. It's not someone who hates me who insults me—I could avoid them.
13 No, it's you, a man just like me, my best friend who I know so well!
14 Our friendship was so close. We used to have great talks together as we walked with everyone to the house of God.
15 May death come quickly to them; may they go down into the grave alive, because evil finds its home in them.
16 As for me, I cry out to God, and the Lord will save me.
17 I weep and groan morning, noon, and night, and he listens to me.
18 He rescues me, keeping me safe and sound from my attackers, because there are so many against me.
19 God who has ruled from the beginning will hear me and answer them. Selah. For they refuse to change and don't respect God.
20 As for my best friend,§ Implied. he attacked his friends who had no quarrel with him; he broke the promises he had made to them.
21 What he says is as smooth as butter, but inside he plans war; his words are as soothing as oil, but they cut like sharp swords.
22 Throw your burdens onto the Lord and he will take care of you. He will never allow those who live right to fall.
23 But you, God, will bring down murderers and liars, throwing them into the pit of destruction before they have even lived half their lives. As for me, I will trust in you.

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*55:3 Literally, “pressuring.”

†55:10 This could mean that though the city walls are patrolled, the evil is inside the city; or that violence and conflict are symbolically the ones on patrol, so inevitably wickedness and trouble are within the city as well.

‡55:12 Implied.

§55:20 Implied.

© 2018 Dr. Jonathan Gallagher