Psalms 55
1 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.
For the end, among Hymns of instruction by David. Hearken, O God, to my prayer; and disregard not my supplication.
2 Hearken vnto me, and answere me: I mourne in my prayer, and make a noyse,
Attend to me, and hearken to me: I was grieved in my (meditation) and troubled;
3 For the voyce of the enemie, and for the vexation of ye wicked, because they haue brought iniquitie vpon me, and furiously hate me.
because of the voice of the enemy, and because of the oppression of the sinner: for they brought iniquity against me, and were wrathfully angry with me.
4 Mine heart trembleth within mee, and the terrours of death are fallen vpon me.
My heart was troubled within me; and the fear of death fell upon me.
5 Feare and trembling are come vpon mee, and an horrible feare hath couered me.
Fear and trembling came upon me, and darkness covered me.
6 And I said, Oh that I had wings like a doue: then would I flie away and rest.
And I said, O that I had wings as [those] of a dove! then would I flee away, and be at rest.
7 Beholde, I woulde take my flight farre off, and lodge in the wildernes. (Selah)
Lo! I have fled afar off, and lodged in the wilderness. (Pause)
8 Hee would make haste for my deliuerance from the stormie winde and tempest.
I waited for him that should deliver me from distress of spirit and tempest.
9 Destroy, O Lord, and deuide their tongues: for I haue seene crueltie and strife in the citie.
Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen iniquity and gain saying in the city.
10 Day and night they goe about it vpon the walles thereof: both iniquitie and mischiefe are in the middes of it.
Day and night he shall go round about it upon its walls: iniquity and sorrow and unrighteousness [are] in the midst of it;
11 Wickednes is in the middes thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streetes.
and usury and craft have not failed from its streets.
12 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.
For if an enemy had reproached me, I would have endured it; and if one who hated [me] had spoken vauntingly against me, I would have hid myself from him.
13 But it was thou, O man, euen my companion, my guide and my familiar:
But thou, O man like minded, my guide, and my acquaintance,
14 Which delited in consulting together, and went into the House of God as companions.
who in companionship with me sweetened [our] food: we walked in the house of God in concord.
15 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)
Let death come upon them, and let them go down alive into Hades, for iniquity is in their dwellings, in the midst of them. (Sheol h7585)
16 But I will call vnto God, and the Lord will saue me.
I cried to God, and the Lord hearkened to me.
17 Euening and morning, and at noone will I pray, and make a noyse, and he wil heare my voice.
Evening, and morning, and at noon I will declare and make known [my wants]: and he shall hear my voice.
18 He hath deliuered my soule in peace from the battel, that was against me: for many were with me.
He shall deliver my soul in peace from them that draw nigh to me: for they were with me in many [cases].
19 God shall heare and afflict them, euen hee that reigneth of olde, (Selah) because they haue no changes, therefore they feare not God.
God shall hear, and bring them low, [even] he that has existed from eternity. (Pause) For they suffer no reverse, and [therefore] they have not feared God.
20 Hee layed his hande vpon such, as be at peace with him, and he brake his couenant.
He has reached forth his hand for retribution; they have profaned his covenant.
21 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.
They were scattered at the anger of his countenance, and his heart drew nigh them. His words were smoother than oil, yet are they darts.
22 Cast thy burden vpon the Lord, and hee shall nourish thee: he wil not suffer the righteous to fall for euer.
Cast thy care upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee; he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
23 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.
But thou, O God, shalt bring them down to the pit of destruction; bloody and crafty men shall not live out half their days; but I will hope in thee, O Lord.
