Chapter 55

To the chief Musician¹⁸ on Neginoth, Maschil, ^{7919 56} [A Psalm] of David.
Give ear⁵⁴ to my prayer, O God; and hide¹⁰¹ not thyself from my supplication.

Attend⁵⁴ unto me, and hear³ me: I mourn⁵⁵ in my complaint, and make a noise;⁵⁵

Because of the voice of the enemy,⁶ because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast⁵⁵ iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate⁴ me.

My heart is sore pained⁴ within me: and the terrors of death are fallen¹ upon me.

Fearfulness and trembling are come⁴ upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed¹⁷ me.

And I said,⁴ Oh that⁴ I had wings like a dove! [for then] would I fly away,⁴ and be at rest.⁴

Lo, [then] would I wander² far off,⁵⁵ [and] remain⁴ in the wilderness. Selah.

I would hasten⁵⁵ my escape from the windy storm⁵ [and] tempest.

Destroy,¹⁶ O Lord, [and] divide¹⁶ their tongues: for I have seen¹ violence and strife in the city.

Day and night they go about²⁵ it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow [are] in the midst of it.

Wickedness [is] in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart⁵⁵ not from her streets.

For [it was] not an enemy⁶ [that] reproached¹⁷ me; then I could have borne⁴ [it]: neither [was it] he that hated¹⁸ me [that] did magnify⁵² [himself] against me; then I would have hid¹¹ myself from him:

But [it was] thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.³⁰

We took sweet⁵⁵ counsel together, [and] walked¹⁷ unto the house of God in company.

Let death seize^{55 3451} upon them, [and] let them go down⁴ quick into hell: for wickedness [is] in their dwellings, [and] among them.

As for me, I will call⁴ upon God; and the LORD shall save⁵⁵ me.

Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray,⁴ and cry aloud:⁴ and he shall hear⁴ my voice.

He hath delivered¹ my soul in peace from the battle [that was] against me: for there were many with me.

God shall hear,⁴ and afflict⁴ them, even he that abideth⁶ of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear¹ not God.

He hath put forth¹ his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken¹⁴ his covenant.

[The words] of his mouth were smoother¹ than butter, but war [was] in his heart: his words were softer¹ than oil, yet [were] they drawn swords.

Cast⁵⁴ thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain⁴⁶ thee: he shall never ⁵⁷⁶⁹ suffer⁴ the righteous to be moved.²

But thou, O God, shalt bring them down⁵⁵ into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half⁴ their days; but I will trust⁴ in thee.