Psalm 55
Hear my prayer, O God
: and do not hide yourself from my petition.
Give heed to me, and answer me
: I am restless in my complaining.
I am in turmoil at the voice of the enemy
: at the onslaught of the wicked.
For they bring down disaster upon me
: they persecute me with bitter fury.
My heart writhes within me
: and the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
Fear and trembling come upon me
: and horror overwhelms me.
And I said ‘O for the wings of a dove
: that I might fly away and find rest.
‘Then I would flee far off
: and make my lodging in the wilderness.
‘I would hasten to find me a refuge
: out of the blast of slander,
‘Out of the tempest of their calumny, O Lord
: and far from their double tongues.’
For I have seen violence and strife in the city
: day and night they go round it upon its walls.
Evil and wickedness are within it
: iniquity is within it, oppression and fraud
do not depart from its streets.
It was not an enemy that reviled me,
or I might have borne it
: it was not my foe that dealt so insolently with me,
or I might have hidden myself from him;
But it was you, a man like myself
: my companion and my familiar friend.
Together we enjoyed sweet fellowship
: in the house of our God.
[Let them pass away in confusion
: let death carry them to destruction;
Let them go down alive to Sheol
: for evil is among them in their dwellings.]
But I will call to God
: and the Lord my God will save me.
At evening, at morning, and at noon-day
: I complain and groan aloud.
And he will hear my voice
: and ransom my soul in peace,
From those that bear down upon me
: for there are many against me.
God will hear and bring them low
: he that is enthroned for ever.
For they do not keep their word
: and they have no fear of God.
They lay violent hands on those that are at peace with them
: they break solemn covenants.
Their mouths are smooth as butter, but war is in their hearts
: their words are softer than oil, yet they are drawn swords.
Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you
: he will never suffer the righteous man to stumble.
But as for them, you will bring them down, O God
: even to the depths of the Pit.
Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days
: but I will trust in you.