Psalms 55
55
PSALM 55
Common Meter: 8,6,8,6
To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil,
A Psalm of David.
1Lord, hear my pray'r, hide not thyself
from my entreating voice:
2Attend and hear me; in my plaint
I mourn and make a noise.
3Because of th' en'my's voice, and for
lewd men's oppression great:
On me they cast iniquity,
and they in wrath me hate.
4Sore pain'd within me is my heart:
death's terrors on me fall.
5On me comes trembling, fear and dread
o'erwhelmed me withal.
6O that I, like a dove, had wings,
said I, then would I flee
Far hence, that I might find a place
where I in rest might be.
7Lo, then far off I wander would,
and in the desert stay;
8From windy storm and tempest I
would haste to 'scape away.
9O Lord, on them destruction bring,
and do their tongues divide;
For in the city violence and strife I have espy'd.
10They day and night upon the walls
do go about it round:
There mischief is, and sorrow there
in midst of it is found.
11Abundant wickedness there is
within her inward part;
And from her streets deceitfulness
and guile do not depart.
12He was no foe that me reproach'd,
then that endure I could;
Nor hater that did 'gainst me boast,
from him me hide I would.
13But thou, man, who mine equal, guide,
and mine acquaintance wast:
14We join'd sweet counsels, to God's house
in company we past.
15Let death upon them seize, and down
let them go quick to hell;
For wickedness doth much abound
among them where they dwell.
16I'll call on God: God will me save.
17I'll pray, and make a noise
At ev'ning, morning, and at noon;
and he shall hear my voice.
18He hath my soul delivered,
that it in peace might be
From battle that against me was;
for many were with me.
19The Lord shall hear, and them afflict,
of old who hath abode:
Because they never changes have,
therefore they fear not God.
20'Gainst those that were at peace with him
he hath put forth his hand:
The covenant that he had made,
by breaking he profan'd.
21More smooth than butter were his words,
while in his heart was war;
His speeches were more soft than oil,
and yet drawn swords they are.
22Cast thou thy burden on the Lord,
and he shall thee sustain;
Yea, he shall cause the righteous man
unmoved to remain.
23But thou, O Lord my God, those men
in justice shalt o'erthrow,
And in destruction's dungeon dark
at last shalt lay them low:
The bloody and deceitful men
shall not live half their days:
But upon thee with confidence
I will depend always.
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Psalms 55: MP1650
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maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society
Psalms 55
55
Psalm 55#In Hebrew texts 55:1-23 is numbered 55:2-24.
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil#Title: Probably a literary or musical term of David.
1Listen to my prayer, O God,
do not ignore my plea;
2hear me and answer me.
My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught
3because of what my enemy is saying,
because of the threats of the wicked;
for they bring down suffering on me
and assail me in their anger.
4My heart is in anguish within me;
the terrors of death have fallen on me.
5Fear and trembling have beset me;
horror has overwhelmed me.
6I said, ‘Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest.
7I would flee far away
and stay in the desert;#55:7 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and in the middle of verse 19.
8I would hurry to my place of shelter,
far from the tempest and storm.’
9Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words,
for I see violence and strife in the city.
10Day and night they prowl about on its walls;
malice and abuse are within it.
11Destructive forces are at work in the city;
threats and lies never leave its streets.
12If an enemy were insulting me,
I could endure it;
if a foe were rising against me,
I could hide.
13But it is you, a man like myself,
my companion, my close friend,
14with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship
at the house of God,
as we walked about
among the worshippers.
15Let death take my enemies by surprise;
let them go down alive to the realm of the dead,
for evil finds lodging among them.
16As for me, I call to God,
and the Lord saves me.
17Evening, morning and noon
I cry out in distress,
and he hears my voice.
18He rescues me unharmed
from the battle waged against me,
even though many oppose me.
19God, who is enthroned from of old,
who does not change –
he will hear them and humble them,
because they have no fear of God.
20My companion attacks his friends;
he violates his covenant.
21His talk is smooth as butter,
yet war is in his heart;
his words are more soothing than oil,
yet they are drawn swords.
22Cast your cares on the Lord
and he will sustain you;
he will never let
the righteous be shaken.
23But you, God, will bring down the wicked
into the pit of decay;
the bloodthirsty and deceitful
will not live out half their days.
But as for me, I trust in you.
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