Old Testament · Poetry and wisdom

Psalms chapter 55

Listen to my , God. Don’t turn away from my .Pay attention to me and answer me. I’m in my anguish — I can’t stop pacing —because of what the enemy is saying, because of the pressure the keep putting on me. They pile trouble on top of me and harass me with their fury.My heart is inside me, and the terror of death has fallen over me.Fear and trembling have come over me, and a has swallowed me whole.And I said, “If only I had wings like a — I would fly away and find .”I would fly far, far away. I would make my home in the .I would rush to find from the raging wind and storm., Lord! ! Because I see violence and conflict in the city.Day and night they circle the city on its walls. and misery fill it to the brim. is at the center of it all. Cruelty and never leave its streets.If it were an enemy taunting me, I could endure it. If someone who hated me were rising against me, I could hide from them.But it’s you — someone just like me, my , my .We used to with such sweetness. We walked with the crowd into the .Let death come on them without warning. Let them go down to alive, because evil lives in their homes — right there inside them.But I — I call out to God, and will me.Evening and morning and noon, I in anguish, and he hears my voice.He from the battle waged against me, even though so many were lined up against me.God will hear and bring them low — the one — because they and have no respect for God.My companion turned against ; he broke his .His mouth was smoother than butter, but war was in his heart. His words were softer than oil, yet they were . onto , and he will . He will never let be .But you, God, will bring them down into the . The and the liars — they won’t live out half their days. But I will in you.