Psalms 55

For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. Maschil of David.

1Give ear to my prayer, O God;And hide not thyself from my supplication. 2Attend unto me, and answer me:I am restless in my complaint, and moan, 3Because 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. 4My heart is sore pained within me:And the terrors of death are fallen upon me. 5Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me,And horror hath overwhelmed me. 6And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove!Then would I fly away, and be at rest. 7Lo, then would I wander far off,I would lodge in the wilderness. [Selah 8I would haste me to a shelterFrom the stormy wind and tempest. 9Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongue;For I have seen violence and strife in the city. 10Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof:Iniquity also and mischief are in the midst of it. 11Wickedness is in the midst thereof:Oppression and guile depart not from its streets. 12For 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: 13But it was thou, a man mine equal,My companion, and my familiar friend. 14We took sweet counsel together;We walked in the house of God with the throng. 15Let death come suddenly upon them,Let them go down alive into Sheol;For wickedness is in their dwelling, in the midst of them. 16As for me, I will call upon God;And Jehovah will save me. 17Evening, and morning, and at noonday, will I complain, and moan;And he will hear my voice. 18He hath redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me;For they were many that strove with me. 19God will hear, and answer them,Even he that abideth of old, [SelahThe men who have no changes,And who fear not God. 20He hath put forth his hands against such as were at peace with him:He hath profaned his covenant. 21His mouth was smooth as butter,But his heart was war:His words were softer than oil,Yet were they drawn swords. 22Cast thy burden upon Jehovah, and he will sustain thee:He will never suffer the righteous to be moved. 23But 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.