Psalm 55
Exaudi, Deus
1 HEAR my prayer, O God * and hide not thyself from my petition.
2 Take heed unto me, and hear me * how I mourn in my prayer, and am vexed.
3 The enemy crieth so, and the ungodly cometh on so fast * for they are minded to do me some mischief; so maliciously are they set against me.
4 My heart is disquieted within me * and the fear of death is fallen upon me.
5 Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me * and an horrible dread hath overwhelmed me.
6 And I said, O that I had wings like a dove * for then would I flee away, and be at rest.
7 Lo, then would I get me away far off * and remain in the wilderness.
8 I would make haste to escape * because of the stormy wind and tempest.
9 Destroy their tongues, O Lord, and divide them * for I have spied unrighteousness and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they go about within the walls thereof * mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.
11 Wickedness is therein * deceit and guile go not out of their streets.
12 For it is not an open enemy, that hath done me this dishonour * for then I could have borne it.
13 Neither was it mine adversary, that did magnify himself against me * for then peradventure I would have hid myself from him.
14 But it was even thou, my companion * my guide, and mine 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 quick into hell * for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.
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 that instantly * and he shall hear my voice.
19 It is he that hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me * for there were many with me.
20 Yea, even God, that endureth for ever, shall hear me, and bring them down * for they will not turn, nor fear God.
21 He laid his hands upon such as be at peace with him * and he brake his covenant.
22 The words of his mouth were softer than butter, having war in his heart * his words were smoother than oil, and yet be they very swords.
23 O cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall nourish thee * and shall not suffer the righteous to fall for ever.
24 And as for them * thou, O God, shalt bring them into the pit of destruction.
25 The blood-thirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days * nevertheless, my trust shall be in thee, O Lord.