Psalms 55

1 [To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, {A Psalm} of David.] Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication. {chief...: or, overseer} {Maschil: or, of instruction} 2 Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise; 3 Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me. 4 My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me. 5 Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. {overwhelmed: Heb. covered} 6 And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! {for then} would I fly away, and be at rest. 7 Lo, {then} would I wander far off, {and} remain in the wilderness. Selah. 8 I would hasten my escape from the windy storm {and} tempest. 9 Destroy, O Lord, {and} divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city. 10 Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow {are} in the midst of it. 11 Wickedness {is} in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets. 12 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: 13 But {it was} thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. {mine equal: Heb. according to my rank} 14 We took sweet counsel together, {and} walked unto the house of God in company. {We...: Heb. Who sweetened counsel} 15 Let death seize upon them, {and} let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness {is} in their dwellings, {and} among them. {hell: or, the grave} 16 As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me. 17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. 18 He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle {that was} against me: for there were many with me. 19 God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God. {Because...: or, With whom also there be no changes, yet they} 20 He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant. {broken: Heb. profaned} 21 {The words} of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war {was} in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet {were} they drawn swords. 22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. {burden: or, gift} 23 But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee. {bloody...: Heb. men of bloods and deceit} {shall...: Heb. shall not half their days}