< Psalms 55 >
1 For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. Maschil of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.
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 unto 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 cast iniquity upon me, and in anger they persecute 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 sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
Mine heart trembleth within mee, and the terrours of death are fallen vpon me.
5 Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
Feare and trembling are come vpon mee, and an horrible feare hath couered me.
6 And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! then would I 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 Lo, then would I 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 haste me to a shelter from the stormy wind and tempest.
Hee would make haste for my deliuerance from the stormie winde and tempest.
9 Destroy, O Lord, [and] divide their tongue: 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 go about upon the walls thereof: iniquity also and mischief are in the midst of it.
Day and night they goe about it vpon the walles thereof: both iniquitie and mischiefe are in the middes of it.
11 Wickedness is in the midst thereof: oppression and guile depart not from her streets.
Wickednes is in the middes thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streetes.
12 For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself 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 thou, a man mine equal, my companion, and my familiar friend.
But it was thou, O man, euen my companion, my guide and my familiar:
14 We took sweet counsel together, we walked in the house of God with the throng.
Which delited in consulting together, and went into the House of God as companions.
15 Let death come suddenly upon them, let them go down alive into the pit: 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 upon God; and the LORD shall save me.
But I will call vnto God, and the Lord will saue me.
17 Evening, and morning, and at noonday, will I complain, and moan: and he shall hear my voice.
Euening and morning, and at noone will I pray, and make a noyse, and he wil heare my voice.
18 He hath redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for they were many [that strove] with me.
He hath deliuered my soule in peace from the battel, that was against me: for many were with me.
19 God shall hear, and answer them, even he that abideth of old, (Selah) [the men] who have no changes, and who fear not 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 hath put forth his hands against such as were at peace with him: he hath profaned 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 were they 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 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Cast thy burden vpon the Lord, and hee shall nourish thee: he wil not suffer the righteous to fall for euer.
23 But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.
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.