Psalm 55

Cast Your Burden upon the LORD

(2 Samuel 17:15–29)

For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Maskil ¹ of David.

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

² Attend to me and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and distraught

³ at the voice of the enemy, at the pressure of the wicked. For they bring down disaster upon me and resent me in their anger.

⁴ My heart pounds within me, and the terrors of death assail me.

⁵ Fear and trembling grip me, and horror has overwhelmed me.

⁶ I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest.

⁷ How far away I would flee! In the wilderness I would remain. Selah

⁸ I would hurry to my shelter, far from this raging tempest.”

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

¹⁰ Day and night they encircle the walls, while malice and trouble lie within.

¹¹ Destruction is within; oppression and deceit never leave the streets.

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.

¹³ But it is you, a man like myself, my companion and close friend.

¹⁴ We shared sweet fellowship together; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.

¹⁵ Let death seize them by surprise; let them go down to Sheol alive, for evil is with them in their homes.

¹⁶ But I call to God, and the LORD saves me.

¹⁷ Morning, noon, and night, I cry out in distress, and He hears my voice.

¹⁸ He redeems my soul in peace from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me.

¹⁹ God will hear and humiliate them— the One enthroned for the ages— Selah because they do not change and they have no fear of God.

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

²¹ His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed.

²² Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.

²³ But You, O God, will bring them down to the Pit of destruction; men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You.