Psalms 55

¹To 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.

²Hearken vnto me, and answere me: I mourne in my prayer, and make a noyse,

³For the voyce of the enemie, and for the vexation of ye wicked, because they haue brought iniquitie vpon me, and furiously hate me.

⁴Mine heart trembleth within mee, and the terrours of death are fallen vpon me.

⁵Feare and trembling are come vpon mee, and an horrible feare hath couered me.

⁶And I said, Oh that I had wings like a doue: then would I flie away and rest.

⁷Beholde, I woulde take my flight farre off, and lodge in the wildernes. Selah.

⁸Hee would make haste for my deliuerance from the stormie winde and tempest.

⁹Destroy, O Lord, and deuide their tongues: for I haue seene crueltie and strife in the citie.

¹⁰Day and night they goe about it vpon the walles thereof: both iniquitie and mischiefe are in the middes of it.

¹¹Wickednes is in the middes thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streetes.

¹²Surely 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.

¹³But it was thou, O man, euen my companion, my guide and my familiar:

¹⁴Which delited in consulting together, and went into the House of God as companions.

¹⁵Let death sense vpon them: let them goe downe quicke into the graue: for wickednes is in their dwellings, euen in the middes of them.

¹⁶But I will call vnto God, and the Lord will saue me.

¹⁷Euening and morning, and at noone will I pray, and make a noyse, and he wil heare my voice.

¹⁸He hath deliuered my soule in peace from the battel, that was against me: for many were with me.

¹⁹God shall heare and afflict them, euen hee that reigneth of olde, Selah. because they haue no changes, therefore they feare not God.

²⁰Hee layed his hande vpon such, as be at peace with him, and he brake his couenant.

²¹The 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.

²²Cast thy burden vpon the Lord, and hee shall nourish thee: he wil not suffer the righteous to fall for euer.

²³And 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.

Psalms 55

¹Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.

²Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;

³Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.

⁴My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.

⁵Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.

⁶And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.

⁷Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.

⁸I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.

⁹Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

¹⁰Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.

¹¹Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.

¹²For 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:

¹³But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.

¹⁴We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.

¹⁵Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.

¹⁶As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me.

¹⁷Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

¹⁸He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.

¹⁹God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.

²⁰He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.

²¹The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.

²²Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

²³But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.