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. With stringed instruments. A maskil of David. Listen, God, to my prayer. Don’t hide yourself from my pleading.
2 Hearken vnto me, and answere me: I mourne in my prayer, and make a noyse,
Hear me, and answer; for bitter is my lament.
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.
I am wild with the noise of the foe, with the clamor of the ungodly; for they hurl disaster upon me, and attack me with fury.
4 Mine heart trembleth within mee, and the terrours of death are fallen vpon me.
My heart shudders within me, terrors of deaths press on me,
5 Feare and trembling are come vpon mee, and an horrible feare hath couered me.
fear and trembling attack me, and horror wraps me round.
6 And I said, Oh that I had wings like a doue: then would I flie away and rest.
O for the wings of a dove: I would fly away and rest.
7 Beholde, I woulde take my flight farre off, and lodge in the wildernes. (Selah)
I would wander far away, find refuge in the wilderness. (Selah)
8 Hee would make haste for my deliuerance from the stormie winde and tempest.
I would find myself a shelter from raging wind and tempest.
9 Destroy, O Lord, and deuide their tongues: for I haue seene crueltie and strife in the citie.
Confuse them, Lord, upset their plans; for I see 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.
By day and by night they make their rounds on the city walls, while within is crime and trouble,
11 Wickednes is in the middes thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streetes.
within is ruin. Her market-place is never free of deceit and tyranny.
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.
The taunts were not those of a foe that I could have borne; the disdain was not that of an enemy I could have shunned them:
13 But it was thou, O man, euen my companion, my guide and my familiar:
but it was you, my equal, my dear and familiar friend.
14 Which delited in consulting together, and went into the House of God as companions.
We used to be so close, together we walked in God’s house with the crowd.
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 death suddenly take them, may they go down to Sheol alive, for evil lives in their homes and their hearts. (Sheol h7585)
16 But I will call vnto God, and the Lord will saue me.
But I will call on God, the Lord 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 noon I lament and moan. 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.
though I am attacked by many he will rescue me, unharmed from the war.
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, who sits on his ancient throne will hear and will humble them, for they never change, they never fear God. (Selah)
20 Hee layed his hande vpon such, as be at peace with him, and he brake his couenant.
My friend turned against me, betrayed his word.
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.
His mouth was smoother than butter, but war filled his heart. His words were softer than oil, but sharper than swords.
22 Cast thy burden vpon the Lord, and hee shall nourish thee: he wil not suffer the righteous to fall for euer.
Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you. He will never let the righteous be shaken.
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 you, God, will hurl them down to the deepest pit. Bloody and treacherous people will not live out half their days; but I will trust you.
