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.
55:2 Attend to me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;
55:3 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.
55:4 My heart is greatly pained within me: and the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
55:5 Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
55:6 And I said, O that I had wings like a dove! [for then] I would fly away, and be at rest.
55:7 Lo, [then] I would wander far off, [and] remain in the wilderness. Selah.
55:8 I would hasten my escape from the windy storm [and] tempest.
55:9 Destroy, O Lord, [and] divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
55:10 Day and night they go about her upon her walls: mischief also and sorrow [are] in her midst.
55:11 Wickedness [is] in her midst: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
55:12 For [it was] not an enemy [that] reproached me; then I could have borne [it]: neither [was it] he that hated me [that] magnified [himself] against me; then I would have hid myself from him:
55:13 But [it was] thou, a man my equal, my guide, and my acquaintance.
55:14 We took sweet counsel together, [and] walked to the house of God in company.
55:15 Let death seize upon them, [and] let them go down alive into hell: for wickedness [is] in their dwellings, [and] among them.
55:16 As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.
55:17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
55:18 He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle [that was] against me: for there were many with me.
55:19 God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.
55:20 He hath put forth his hands against such as are at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.
55:21 [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.
55:22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never allow the righteous to be moved.
55:23 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.