The psalmist prays for help because he is “in trouble” (Good News Translation). The Hebrew word is used also in 55.2b, where Revised Standard Version translates “my trouble,” while here it translates my complaint. The Hebrew word itself is defined as “business, concern,” and is variously translated: New Jerusalem Bible “as I plead”; New English Bible “my lament”; Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, and New International Version are like Revised Standard Version (see also Bible en français courant “I complain to you”). And Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translates “my loud complaint.” It may be better to follow the majority and translate something like “Listen to my bitter complaint, O God!”
The phrase dread of the enemy means that his enemies make him afraid; the translation can be “terrifying enemies” (see Traduction œcuménique de la Bible), “the enemy’s terror” (New Jerusalem Bible), “terrible enemies” (Biblia Dios Habla Hoy). Because of the danger they pose, the psalmist asks God to save his life.
In verse 2a the word translated plots can also mean a group; that is, it can mean either “counsel” or “council.” New Jerusalem Bible has “a band”; “that conclave” is also possible; this meaning is more closely parallel to the next line, in which the Good News Translation word “mobs” translates a noun found only here in the Old Testament. In 55.14 a related noun is used, which Revised Standard Version translates “(we walked) in fellowship.” Revised Standard Version takes the noun in line b as parallel to secret plots in line a, and so translates the scheming of evildoers (so Bible en français courant, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy). New Jerusalem Bible translates “a crowd of evildoers,” and New Jerusalem Bible “the gang.” Everything considered, it seems best to follow Good News Translation and New Jerusalem Bible here.
Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Reyburn, William D. A Handbook on the Book of Psalms. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1991. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .