THE *BOOK OF
PSALMS.
Psalm 55 ©
David, being in danger to be surrounded and overtaken, complains to God of his distress, and does very anxiously pray for the frustrating of the practices of his enemies, whose cruelty, falsehood and perfidiousness (especially one of them) he presents to God, though prophesying their destruction, and affirming himself of God’s answer, strengthens both himself and all believers with confidence in God, Who serves the godly and destroys the wicked.
To the chief Musician on Neginoth, 1Maschil, A Psalm of David.
GIVE ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.
Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my 2complaint, and make a 3noise;
Because of the 4voice of the enemy, because of the oppression 5of the wicked: for they cast 6iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.
My heart is 7sore pained within me: and the terrors of 8death are fallen upon me.
Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
And I said, 9Oh that I had 10wings like a 11dove! for then would I fly away, and 12be at rest.
Lo, then would I wander 13far off, and 14remain in the wilderness. 15Selah.
16I would hasten my escape from the 17windy storm and tempest.
Destroy, O Lord, and divide their 18tongues: for I have seen 19violence and strife in the 20city.
Day and night they 21go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.
22Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
For it was not an 23enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did 24magnify himself against me; then I would have 25hid myself from him:
But it was thou, a man mine 26equal, my 27guide, and mine acquaintance.
We took 28sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God 29in company.
30Let 31death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their 32dwellings, and among them.
As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.
33Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
He hath delivered my 34soul in peace from the battle that was 35against me: for there were 36many with me.
God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that 37abideth of old. 38Selah. Because they have 39no changes, therefore they fear not God.
40He 41hath put forth his hands against such as be at 42peace with him: he hath broken his 43covenant.
The words of his 44mouth were smoother 45than butter, but 46war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they 47drawn swords.
48Cast 49thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall 50sustain thee: 51he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
But thou, O God, shalt bring 52them down into the pit of destruction: 53bloody and deceitful men shall not live out 54half their days; but I will trust in thee.