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
Psalm 55
55
To the Chief Musician; with stringed instruments. A skillful song, {or} a didactic {or} reflective poem, of David.
1 LISTEN TO my prayer, O God, and hide not Yourself from my supplication!
2 Attend to me and answer me; I am restless and distraught in my complaint and must moan
3 [And I am distracted] at the noise of the enemy, because of the oppression and threats of the wicked; for they would cast trouble upon me, and in wrath they persecute me.
4 My heart is grievously pained within me, and the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
5 Fear and trembling have come upon me; horror and fright have overwhelmed me.
6 And I say, Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.
7 Yes, I would wander far away, I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
8 I would hasten to escape and to find a shelter from the stormy wind and tempest.
9 Destroy [their schemes], O Lord, confuse their tongues, for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they go about on its walls; iniquity and mischief are in its midst.
11 Violence and ruin are within it; fraud and guile do not depart from its streets and marketplaces.
12 For it is not an enemy who reproaches and taunts me–then I might bear it; nor is it one who has hated me who insolently vaunts himself against me–then I might hide from him.
13 But it was you, a man my equal, my companion and my familiar friend.
14 We had sweet fellowship together and used to walk to the house of God in company.
15 Let desolations and death come suddenly upon them; let them go down alive to Sheol (the place of the dead), for evils are in their habitations, in their hearts, and their inmost part.
16 As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord will save me.
17 Evening and morning and at noon will I utter my complaint and moan and sigh, and He will hear my voice.
18 He has redeemed my life in peace from the battle that was against me [so that none came near me], for they were many who strove with me.
19 God will hear and humble them, even He Who abides of old–Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!–because in them there has been no change [of heart], and they do not fear, revere, and worship God.
20 [My companion] has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him; he has broken and profaned his agreement [of friendship and loyalty].
21 The words of his mouth were smoother than cream or butter, but war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.
22 Cast your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and He will sustain you; He will never allow the [consistently] righteous to be moved (made to slip, fall, or fail). [I Pet. 5:7.]
23 But You, O God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in, lean on, and confidently rely on You.
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