Psalms 55
1 For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Maskil of David. Listen to my prayer, O God, and do not ignore my plea.
To him that excelleth on Neginoth. A Psalme of David to give instruction. Heare my prayer, O God, and hide not thy selfe from my supplication.
2 Attend to me and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and distraught
Hearken vnto me, and answere me: I mourne in my prayer, and make a noyse,
3 at the voice of the enemy, at the pressure of the wicked. For they release disaster upon me and revile me in their anger.
For the voyce of the enemie, and for the vexation of ye wicked, because they haue brought iniquitie vpon me, and furiously hate me.
4 My heart murmurs within me, and the terrors of death assail me.
Mine heart trembleth within mee, and the terrours of death are fallen vpon me.
5 Fear and trembling grip me, and horror has overwhelmed me.
Feare and trembling are come vpon mee, and an horrible feare hath couered me.
6 I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest.
And I said, Oh that I had wings like a doue: then would I flie away and rest.
7 How far away I would flee! In the wilderness I would remain.
Beholde, I woulde take my flight farre off, and lodge in the wildernes. (Selah)
8 I would hurry to my shelter, far from this raging tempest.”
Hee would make haste for my deliuerance from the stormie winde and tempest.
9 O Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city.
Destroy, O Lord, and deuide their tongues: for I haue seene crueltie and strife in the citie.
10 Day and night they encircle the walls, while malice and trouble lie within.
Day and night they goe about it vpon the walles thereof: both iniquitie and mischiefe are in the middes of it.
11 Destruction is within; oppression and deceit never leave the streets.
Wickednes is in the middes thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streetes.
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.
Surely mine enemie did not defame mee: for I could haue borne it: neither did mine aduersarie exalt himselfe against mee: for I would haue hid me from him.
13 But it is you, a man like myself, my companion and close friend.
But it was thou, O man, euen my companion, my guide and my familiar:
14 We shared sweet fellowship together; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.
Which delited in consulting together, and went into the House of God as companions.
15 Let death seize them by surprise; let them go down to Sheol alive, for evil is with them in their homes. (Sheol h7585)
Let death sense vpon them: let them goe downe quicke into the graue: for wickednes is in their dwellings, euen in the middes of them. (Sheol h7585)
16 But I call to God, and the LORD saves me.
But I will call vnto God, and the Lord will saue me.
17 Morning, noon, and night, I cry out in distress, and He hears my voice.
Euening and morning, and at noone will I pray, and make a noyse, and he wil heare my voice.
18 He redeems my soul in peace from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me.
He hath deliuered my soule in peace from the battel, that was against me: for many were with 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.
God shall heare and afflict them, euen hee that reigneth of olde, (Selah) because they haue no changes, therefore they feare not God.
20 My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.
Hee layed his hande vpon such, as be at peace with him, and he brake his couenant.
21 His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed.
The wordes of his mouth were softer then butter, yet warre was in his heart: his words were more gentle then oyle, yet they were swordes.
22 Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.
Cast thy burden vpon the Lord, and hee shall nourish thee: he wil not suffer the righteous to fall for euer.
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.
And thou, O God, shalt bring them downe into the pitte of corruption: the bloudie, and deceitfull men shall not liue halfe their dayes: but I will trust in thee.
