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 Overseer with stringed instruments. — An instruction, by David. Give ear, O God, [to] my prayer, And hide not from my supplication.
2 Hearken vnto me, and answere me: I mourne in my prayer, and make a noyse,
Attend to me, and answer me, I mourn in my (meditation) and make a noise,
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 an enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked, For they cause sorrow to move against me, And in anger they hate me.
4 Mine heart trembleth within mee, and the terrours of death are fallen vpon me.
My heart is pained within me, And terrors of death have fallen on me.
5 Feare and trembling are come vpon mee, and an horrible feare hath couered me.
Fear and trembling come in to me, And horror doth cover me.
6 And I said, Oh that I had wings like a doue: then would I flie away and rest.
And I say, 'Who doth give to me a pinion as a dove? I fly away and rest,
7 Beholde, I woulde take my flight farre off, and lodge in the wildernes. (Selah)
Lo, I move far off, I lodge in a wilderness. (Selah)
8 Hee would make haste for my deliuerance from the stormie winde and tempest.
I hasten escape for myself, From a rushing wind, from a whirlwind.
9 Destroy, O Lord, and deuide their tongues: for I haue seene crueltie and strife in the citie.
Swallow up, O Lord, divide their tongue, For I saw violence and strife in a 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 go round it, on its walls. Both iniquity and perverseness [are] in its midst,
11 Wickednes is in the middes thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streetes.
Mischiefs [are] in its midst. Fraud and deceit depart not from its street.
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 an enemy reproacheth me not, or I bear [it], He who is hating me Hath not magnified himself against me, Or I hide from him.
13 But it was thou, O man, euen my companion, my guide and my familiar:
But thou, a man — as mine equal, My familiar friend, and mine acquaintance.
14 Which delited in consulting together, and went into the House of God as companions.
When together we sweeten counsel, Into the house of God we walk 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)
Desolations [are] upon them, They go down [to] Sheol — alive, For wickedness [is] in their dwelling, in their midst. (Sheol h7585)
16 But I will call vnto God, and the Lord will saue me.
I — to God I call, and Jehovah saveth 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 meditate, and make a noise, and He heareth my voice,
18 He hath deliuered my soule in peace from the battel, that was against me: for many were with me.
He hath ransomed in peace my soul From him who is near to me, For with the multitude they were with 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 doth hear and afflict them, And He sitteth of old. (Selah) Because they have no changes, and fear not God,
20 Hee layed his hande vpon such, as be at peace with him, and he brake his couenant.
He hath sent forth his hands against his well-wishers, He hath polluted 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.
Sweeter than honey hath been his mouth, And his heart [is] war! Softer have been his words than oil, And they [are] 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 on Jehovah that which He hath given thee, And He doth sustain thee, He doth not suffer for ever the moving of the righteous.
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, dost bring them down To a pit of destruction, Men of blood and deceit reach not to half their days, And I — I do trust in Thee!
