Psalms 55

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[1]David in his prayer complaineth of his distress: [9]he prayeth against his enemies, of whose wickedness and treachery he complaineth: [16]he comforteth himself in God's preservation of him, and confusion of his enemies.

To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David.

1. Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.

2. Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;

3. Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.

4. My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.

5. Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.

6. And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.

7. Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.

8. I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.

9. Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

10. Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.

11. Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.

12. For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:

13. But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.

14. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.

15. Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.

16. As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.

17. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

18. He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.

19. God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.

20. He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.

21. The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.

22. Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

23. But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.

Metrical version

Psalm 55

C.M.

Lord, hear my pray'r, hide not thyself
from my entreating voice:
Attend and hear me; in my plaint
I mourn and make a noise.

Because of th' en'my's voice, and for
lewd men's oppression great:
On me they cast iniquity,
and they in wrath me hate.

Sore pained within me is my heart:
death's terrors on me fall.
On me comes trembling, fear and dread
o'erwhelmed me withal.

O that I, like a dove, had wings,
said I, then would I flee
Far hence, that I might find a place
where I in rest might be.

Lo, then far off I wander would,
and in the desert stay;
From windy storm and tempest I
would haste to 'scape away.

O Lord, on them destruction bring,
and do their tongues divide;
For in the city violence
and strife I have espied.

They day and night upon the walls
do go about it round:
There mischief is, and sorrow there
in midst of it is found.

Abundant wickedness there is
within her inward part;
And from her streets deceitfulness
and guile do not depart.

He was no foe that me reproached,
then that endure I could;
Nor hater that did 'gainst me boast,
from him me hide I would.

But thou, man, who mine equal, guide,
and mine acquaintance wast:
We joined sweet counsels, to God's house
in company we passed.

Let death upon them seize, and down
let them go quick to hell;
For wickedness doth much abound
among them where they dwell.

I'll call on God: GOD will me save.
I'll pray, and make a noise
At ev'ning, morning, and at noon;
and he shall hear my voice.

He hath my soul delivered,
that it in peace might be
From battle that against me was;
for many were with me.

The Lord shall hear, and them afflict,
of old who hath abode:
Because they never changes have,
therefore they fear not God.

'Gainst those that were at peace with him
he hath put forth his hand:
The covenant that he had made,
by breaking he profaned.

More smooth than butter were his words,
while in his heart was war;
His speeches were more soft than oil,
and yet drawn swords they are.

Cast thou thy burden on the LORD,
and he shall thee sustain;
Yea, he shall cause the righteous man
unmoved to remain.

But thou, O Lord my God, those men
in justice shalt o'erthrow,
And in destruction's dungeon dark
at last shalt lay them low:

The bloody and deceitful men
shall not live half their days:
But upon thee with confidence
I will depend always.