Betrayed by My Own Companion
For the director of music: with stringed instruments. A wisdom psalm of David.
Terror and trembling; the psalmist wishes for a dove's wings to fly off into the wilderness. The sharpest pain is not the violence filling the city but the equal, the close friend who walked with him to our Father's house and broke faith.
55 1Hear my prayer, my Father, and do not hide yourself from my plea for mercy. 2Listen to me and answer me; I am restless in my complaint, and I moan, 3because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they bring trouble down upon me, and in anger they bear a grudge against me. 4My heart writhes within me; the terrors of death have fallen upon me. 5Fear and trembling come over me, and horror has overwhelmed me. 6And I said, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.
7Yes, I would wander far away; I would shelter in the wilderness. a a v7 Selah: a musical or liturgical term of uncertain meaning, likely a pause for reflection or a musical interlude. 8I would hurry to my place of shelter, away from the raging wind and the storm." 9Confuse them, Sovereign Father; divide their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city. 10Day and night they prowl its walls; wickedness and trouble are within it. 11Ruin is in its midst; oppression and deceit never leave its streets. 12For it is not an enemy who taunts me—that I could bear; it is not one who hates me who exalts himself over me—from him I could hide. 13But it is you, a man my equal, my companion and my close friend. 14We who shared sweet fellowship together, who walked with the crowd to our Father's house. 15Let death come upon them; let them go down to the grave alive, for evil is in their dwelling, in their very midst. 16But I call to my Father, and my Father will save me. 17Evening and morning and at noon I cry out and moan, and he hears my voice. 18He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle waged against me, though many were set against me.
19Our Father will hear and humble them—he who is enthroned from ancient times. Because they never change, they have no fear of our Father. 20The betrayer has raised his hands against those at peace with him; he has violated his covenant. 21His speech was smoother than butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords. 22Cast your burden on our Father, and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. 23But you, my Father, will bring them down to the pit of destruction; men of bloodshed and treachery will not live out half their days. But I will trust in you.
