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Confuse them, Lord, and frustrate their plans,
    for I see violence and conflict in the city.
10 Its walls are patrolled day and night against invaders,
    but the real danger is wickedness within the city.
11 Everything is falling apart;
    threats and cheating are rampant in the streets.

12 It is not an enemy who taunts me—
    I could bear that.
It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me—
    I could have hidden from them.
13 Instead, it is you—my equal,
    my companion and close friend.
14 What good fellowship we once enjoyed
    as we walked together to the house of God.

15 Let death stalk my enemies;
    let the grave[a] swallow them alive,
    for evil makes its home within them.

16 But I will call on God,
    and the Lord will rescue me.
17 Morning, noon, and night
    I cry out in my distress,
    and the Lord hears my voice.
18 He ransoms me and keeps me safe
    from the battle waged against me,
    though many still oppose me.
19 God, who has ruled forever,
    will hear me and humble them. Interlude
For my enemies refuse to change their ways;
    they do not fear God.

20 As for my companion, he betrayed his friends;
    he broke his promises.
21 His words are as smooth as butter,
    but in his heart is war.
His words are as soothing as lotion,
    but underneath are daggers!

22 Give your burdens to the Lord,
    and he will take care of you.
    He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

23 But you, O God, will send the wicked
    down to the pit of destruction.
Murderers and liars will die young,
    but I am trusting you to save me.

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Footnotes

  1. 55:15 Hebrew let Sheol.

Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words,(A)
    for I see violence and strife(B) in the city.(C)
10 Day and night they prowl(D) about on its walls;
    malice and abuse are within it.
11 Destructive forces(E) are at work in the city;
    threats and lies(F) 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,(G)
14 with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship(H)
    at the house of God,(I)
as we walked about
    among the worshipers.

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

16 As for me, I call to God,
    and the Lord saves me.
17 Evening,(L) morning(M) and noon(N)
    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,(O)
    who does not change—
he will hear(P) them and humble them,
    because they have no fear of God.(Q)

20 My companion attacks his friends;(R)
    he violates his covenant.(S)
21 His talk is smooth as butter,(T)
    yet war is in his heart;
his words are more soothing than oil,(U)
    yet they are drawn swords.(V)

22 Cast your cares on the Lord
    and he will sustain you;(W)
he will never let
    the righteous be shaken.(X)
23 But you, God, will bring down the wicked
    into the pit(Y) of decay;
the bloodthirsty and deceitful(Z)
    will not live out half their days.(AA)

But as for me, I trust in you.(AB)

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