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 leader of the music. To be sung on stringed instruments. A psalm of David.” Give ear to my prayer, O God! 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 hear me! I wander about mourning and wailing,
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.
On account of the clamors of the enemy, On account of the violence of the wicked. For they bring evil upon me, And in wrath set themselves against me.
4 Mine heart trembleth within mee, and the terrours of death are fallen vpon me.
My heart trembleth in my bosom, And the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
5 Feare and trembling are come vpon mee, and an horrible feare hath couered me.
Fear and trembling have seized 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.
Then I say, O that I had wings like a dove! For then would I fly away, and be at rest.
7 Beholde, I woulde take my flight farre off, and lodge in the wildernes. (Selah)
Behold, I would wander far away, And take up my abode in a wilderness. (Pause)
8 Hee would make haste for my deliuerance from the stormie winde and tempest.
I would hasten away to a shelter From the rushing wind and tempest.
9 Destroy, O Lord, and deuide their tongues: for I haue seene crueltie and strife in the citie.
Confound, O Lord! divide their counsels! For I behold 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 do these go about its walls; In the midst of it are iniquity and mischief.
11 Wickednes is in the middes thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streetes.
Wickedness is in the midst of it; Oppression and fraud 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.
It was not an enemy that reviled me, Then I could have borne it; Nor one that hated me, who rose up against me; From him I could have hid myself.
13 But it was thou, O man, euen my companion, my guide and my familiar:
But it was thou, a man my equal, My friend, and my acquaintance.
14 Which delited in consulting together, and went into the House of God as companions.
We held sweet converse together, And walked to the house of God in company.
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)
May sudden death seize upon them! May they go down to the underworld alive! For wickedness is in their dwellings, in the midst of them. (Sheol h7585)
16 But I will call vnto God, and the Lord will saue me.
As for me, I will call upon God, 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.
At evening, at morn, and at noon I mourn and sigh, 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 will deliver me in peace from my conflict; For many have risen up against 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 me, and bring them down, —He that hath been judge of old. (Pause) Because they have no changes, Therefore they fear not God.
20 Hee layed his hande vpon such, as be at peace with him, and he brake his couenant.
They lift up their hands against their friend, And break their covenant with him.
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.
Their speech was softer than butter, But war was in their heart; Their words were smoother than oil, Yet were 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 the LORD, and he will sustain thee; He will never suffer the righteous to fall!”
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.
Yea, thou, O God! wilt bring them down into the lowest pit! Bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in thee!
