< Psalms 55 >
1 [For the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A contemplation by David.] Listen to my prayer, God. Do not hide yourself from my petition.
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.
2 Attend to me, and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and moan,
Hearken vnto me, and answere me: I mourne in my prayer, and make a noyse,
3 Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked. For they bring suffering on me. In anger they hold a grudge against me.
For the voyce of the enemie, and for the vexation of ye wicked, because they haue brought iniquitie vpon me, and furiously hate me.
4 My heart is severely pained within me. The terrors of death have fallen on me.
Mine heart trembleth within mee, and the terrours of death are fallen vpon me.
5 Fearfulness and trembling have come on me. Horror has overwhelmed me.
Feare and trembling are come vpon mee, and an horrible feare hath couered me.
6 I said, "Oh that I had wings like a dove. Then I would fly away, and be at rest.
And I said, Oh that I had wings like a doue: then would I flie away and rest.
7 Look, then I would wander far off. I would lodge in the wilderness." (Selah)
Beholde, I woulde take my flight farre off, and lodge in the wildernes. (Selah)
8 "I would hurry to a shelter from the stormy wind and storm."
Hee would make haste for my deliuerance from the stormie winde and tempest.
9 Confuse them, LORD, and confound their language, for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
Destroy, O Lord, and deuide their tongues: for I haue seene crueltie and strife in the citie.
10 Day and night they prowl around on its walls. Malice and abuse are also within her.
Day and night they goe about it vpon the walles thereof: both iniquitie and mischiefe are in the middes of it.
11 Destructive forces are within her. Threats and lies do not depart from her streets.
Wickednes is in the middes thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streetes.
12 For it was not an enemy who insulted me, then I could have endured it. Neither was it he who hated me who raised himself up against me, then I would have hid myself from him.
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.
13 But it was you, a man like me, my companion, and my familiar friend.
But it was thou, O man, euen my companion, my guide and my familiar:
14 We took sweet fellowship together. We walked in God's house with company.
Which delited in consulting together, and went into the House of God as companions.
15 Let death come suddenly on them. Let them go down alive into Sheol. For wickedness is in their dwelling, in the midst of them. (Sheol )
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 )
16 As for me, I will call on God. The LORD will save me.
But I will call vnto God, and the Lord will saue me.
17 Evening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress. He will hear my voice.
Euening and morning, and at noone will I pray, and make a noyse, and he wil heare my voice.
18 He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, although there are many who oppose me.
He hath deliuered my soule in peace from the battel, that was against me: for many were with me.
19 God, who is enthroned forever, will hear, and humble them. (Selah) They never change, who do not fear God.
God shall heare and afflict them, euen hee that reigneth of olde, (Selah) because they haue no changes, therefore they feare not God.
20 He has stretched out his hand against those who were at peace with him. He has violated his covenant.
Hee layed his hande vpon such, as be at peace with him, and he brake his couenant.
21 His mouth was smooth as butter, but his heart was war. His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.
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.
22 Throw your burden upon the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will never allow the righteous to be upended.
Cast thy burden vpon the Lord, and hee shall nourish thee: he wil not suffer the righteous to fall for euer.
23 But you, God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction. Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days, but I will trust in you.
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.