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
A Lament over Betrayal
1For the leader. On stringed instruments. A maskil of David.
I
2Listen, God, to my prayer;#Ps 5:2–3; 86:6; 130:1–2; Lam 3:56; Jon 2:3.
do not hide from my pleading;
3hear me and give answer.
I rock with grief; I groan
4at the uproar of the enemy,
the clamor of the wicked.
They heap trouble upon me,
savagely accuse me.
5My heart pounds within me;
death’s terrors fall upon me.
6Fear and trembling overwhelm me;
shuddering sweeps over me.
7I say, “If only I had wings like a dove
that I might fly away and find rest.#Ps 11:1.
8Far away I would flee;
I would stay in the desert.#Jer 9:1; Rev 12:6.
Selah
9“I would soon find a shelter
from the raging wind and storm.”
II
10Lord, check and confuse their tongues.
For I see violence and strife in the city
11making rounds on its walls day and night.
Within are mischief and trouble;
12treachery is in its midst;
oppression and fraud never leave its streets.#Jer 5:1; 6:6; Ez 22:2; Heb 1:3; Zep 3:1.
13For it is not an enemy that reviled me—
that I could bear—
Not a foe who viewed me with contempt,
from that I could hide.
14But it was you, my other self,
my comrade and friend,#Ps 41:10; Jer 9:3; Mt 26:21–24 par.
15You, whose company I enjoyed,
at whose side I walked
in the house of God.
III
16Let death take them;
let them go down alive to Sheol,#Ps 49:15; Nm 16:33; Prv 1:2; Is 5:14.
for evil is in their homes and bellies.
17But I will call upon God,
and the Lord will save me.
18At dusk, dawn, and noon
I will grieve and complain,
and my prayer will be heard.#Dn 6:11.
19He will redeem my soul in peace
from those who war against me,
though there are many who oppose me.
20God, who sits enthroned forever,#Ps 29:10; 93:2; Bar 3:3.
will hear me and afflict them.
Selah
For they will not mend their ways;
they have no fear of God.
21He stretched out his hand at his friends
and broke his covenant.
22Softer than butter is his speech,
but war is in his heart.
Smoother than oil are his words,
but they are unsheathed swords.#Ps 12:3; 28:3; 57:5; 62:5; 64:4; Prv 26:24–28; Jer 9:7.
23Cast your care upon the Lord,
who will give you support.
He will never allow
the righteous to stumble.#Ps 37:5; Prv 3:5; 16:3; 1 Pt 5:7.
24But you, God, will bring them down
to the pit of destruction.#Ps 28:1; 30:4; 40:3; 88:5; 143:7; Prv 1:12; Jon 2:7.
These bloodthirsty liars
will not live half their days,
but I put my trust in you.#Ps 25:2; 56:4; 130:5.
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