Chapter 55

  For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. Maschil of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God; And hide not thyself from my supplication.

 Attend unto me, and answer me: I am restless in my complaint, and moan,

 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.

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

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

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

 Lo, then would I wander far off, I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah

 I would haste me to a shelter From the stormy wind and tempest.

 Destroy, O Lord, [and] divide their tongue; For I have seen violence and strife in the city.

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

 Wickedness is in the midst thereof: Oppression and guile depart not from its streets.

 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:

 But it was thou, a man mine equal, My companion, and my familiar friend.

 We took sweet counsel together; We walked in the house of God with the throng.

 Let death come suddenly upon them, Let them go down alive into Sheol; For wickedness is in their dwelling, in the midst of them.

 As for me, I will call upon God; And Jehovah will save me.

 Evening, and morning, and at noonday, will I complain, and moan; And he will hear my voice.

 He hath redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me; For they were many [that strove] with me.

 God will hear, and answer them, Even he that abideth of old, Selah [The men] who have no changes, And who fear not God.

 He hath put forth his hands against such as were at peace with him: He hath profaned his covenant.

 His mouth was smooth as butter, But his heart was war: His words were softer than oil, Yet were they drawn swords.

 Cast thy burden upon Jehovah, and he will sustain thee: He will never suffer the righteous to be moved.

 But thou, O God, wilt 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.