Psalm 55
Exaudi, Deus
1
Hear my prayer, O God, *
and hide not yourself from my petition.
2
Give heed to me, and hear me; *
for I am troubled in my prayer and am tormented,
3
Because of the cry of the enemy, and oppression by the ungodly; *
for they are of a mind to do me great harm, so maliciously are they set against me.
4
My heart is disquieted within me, *
and the fear of death has fallen upon me.
5
Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, *
and a horrible dread has overwhelmed me.
6
And I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove, *
for then would I fly away and be at rest.
7
Indeed, then I would get away to a far off place *
and make my dwelling in the wilderness.
8
I would make haste to escape, *
because of the stormy wind and tempest.”
9
Confuse their speech, O Lord, and divide them, *
for I have seen unrighteousness and strife in the city.
10
Day and night they go about within her walls; *
trouble and sorrow are in the midst of her.
11
Great wickedness is there; *
deceit and guile do not leave her streets.
12
For it is not an enemy who has done me this dishonor, *
for then I could have borne it;
13
Neither was it my adversary who exalted himself against me, *
for then I would have hidden myself from him.
14
But it was you, my companion, *
my comrade and my own familiar friend.
15
We took sweet counsel together *
and walked in the house of God as friends.
16
Let death come hastily upon them, and let them go down alive into the grave; *
for there is wickedness in their hearts.
17
As for me, I will call upon God, *
and the Lord shall save me.
18
In the evening, and morning, and at noonday will I pray and lament, *
and he shall hear my voice.
19
It is he who shall deliver my soul in peace from the battle that is against me, *
for there are many who fight me.
20
God, who endures for ever, shall hear me, and bring them down; *
for they never change, nor do they fear God.
21
My familiar friend has laid his hands upon those who were at peace with him, *
and he has broken his covenant.
22
The words of his mouth were softer than butter, yet war was in his heart; *
his words were smoother than oil, and yet they were drawn swords.
23
O cast your burden upon the Lord, and he shall nourish you, *
and shall not allow the righteous to fall for ever.
24
But as for the bloodthirsty and deceitful, *
you, O God, shall bring them into the pit of destruction.
25
They shall not live out half their days; *
but my trust shall be in you, O Lord.