Psalms 55

Give ear to my prayer, O God; And hide not thyself from my supplication.

Attend unto me, and answer me: I am restless in my complaint, and moan,

Because 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.

My heart is sore pained within me: And the terrors of death are fallen upon me.

Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, And horror hath overwhelmed me.

And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then would I fly away, and be at rest.

Lo, then would I wander far off, I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah

I would haste me to a shelter From the stormy wind and tempest.

Destroy, O Lord, ` and ' divide their tongue; For I have seen violence and strife in the city.

Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: Iniquity also and mischief are in the midst of it.

Wickedness is in the midst thereof: Oppression and guile depart not from its streets.

For 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:

But it was thou, a man mine equal, My companion , and my familiar friend .

We took sweet counsel together ; We walked in the house of God with the throng .

Let death come suddenly upon them, Let them go down alive into Sheol; For wickedness is in their dwelling , in the midst of them.

As for me, I will call upon God; And Jehovah will save me.

Evening, and morning, and at noonday , will I complain , and moan; And he will hear my voice.

He hath redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me ; For they were many `that strove' with me.

God will hear, and answer them, Even he that abideth of old , Selah `The men' who have no changes, And who fear not God.

He hath put forth his hands against such as were at peace with him: He hath profaned his covenant.

His mouth was smooth as butter, But his heart was war : His words were softer than oil, Yet were they drawn swords.

Cast thy burden upon Jehovah , and he will sustain thee: He will never suffer the righteous to be moved.

But 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. Psalm 56 For the Chief Musician; set to Jonath elem rehokim. `A Psalm' of David. Michtam: when the Philistines took him in Gath.