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.
To the chief Musician. On stringed instruments: an instruction. Of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.
2 Hearken vnto me, and answere me: I mourne in my prayer, and make a noyse,
Attend unto me, and answer me: I wander about in my plaint, and I moan aloud,
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; because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in anger they persecute me.
4 Mine heart trembleth within mee, and the terrours of death are fallen vpon me.
My heart is writhing within me, and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
5 Feare and trembling are come vpon mee, and an horrible feare hath couered me.
Fear and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
6 And I said, Oh that I had wings like a doue: then would I flie away and rest.
And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away, and be at rest;
7 Beholde, I woulde take my flight farre off, and lodge in the wildernes. (Selah)
Behold, I would flee afar off, I would lodge in the wilderness; (Selah)
8 Hee would make haste for my deliuerance from the stormie winde and tempest.
I would hasten my escape from the stormy wind, from the tempest.
9 Destroy, O Lord, and deuide their tongues: for I haue seene crueltie and strife in the citie.
Swallow [them] up, Lord; divide their tongue: for I have seen violence and strife 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 they go about it upon the walls thereof; and iniquity and mischief are in the midst of it.
11 Wickednes is in the middes thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streetes.
Perversities are in the midst thereof; and oppression and deceit depart not 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 it is not an enemy that hath reproached me — then could I have borne it; neither is it he that hateth me that hath magnified [himself] against me — then would I have hidden myself from him;
13 But it was thou, O man, euen my companion, my guide and my familiar:
But it was thou, a man mine equal, mine intimate, my familiar friend. ...
14 Which delited in consulting together, and went into the House of God as companions.
We who held sweet intercourse together. To the house of God we walked amid the throng.
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 seize upon them, let them go down alive into Sheol. For wickedness is in their dwellings, in their midst. (Sheol h7585)
16 But I will call vnto God, and the Lord will saue me.
As for me, unto God will I call; and Jehovah will save 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, will I pray and moan aloud; and he will hear my voice.
18 He hath deliuered my soule in peace from the battel, that was against me: for many were with me.
He hath redeemed my soul in peace from the battle against me: for there were many about me.
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 will hear, and afflict them: he that is seated of old, (Selah) ...because there is no change in them, and they fear not God.
20 Hee layed his hande vpon such, as be at peace with him, and he brake his couenant.
He hath put forth his hands against such as are at peace with him; he hath 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.
Smooth were the milky [words] of his mouth, but his heart was war; his words were softer than oil, yet are they drawn swords.
22 Cast thy burden vpon the Lord, and hee shall nourish thee: he wil not suffer the righteous to fall for euer.
Cast thy burden upon Jehovah, and he will sustain thee: he will 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.
And thou, O God, wilt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days. But as for me, I will confide in thee.
