Chapter 55

Psalms

1Give ear to my prayer, O God,and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy!2Attend to me, and answer me;I am restless in my complaint and I moan,3because of the noise of the enemy,because of the oppression of the wicked.For they drop trouble upon me,and in anger they bear a grudge against me.4My heart is in anguish within me;the terrors of death have fallen upon me.5Fear and trembling come upon me,and horror overwhelms me.6And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove!I would fly away and be at rest;7yes, I would wander far away;I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah8I would hurry to find a shelterfrom the raging wind and tempest.”9Destroy, O Lord, divide their tongues;for I see violence and strife in the city.10Day and night they go around iton its walls,and iniquity and trouble are within it;11ruin is in its midst;oppression and frauddo not depart from its marketplace.12For it is not an enemy who taunts me—then I could bear it;it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me—then I could hide from him.13But it is you, a man, my equal,my companion, my familiar friend.14We used to take sweet counsel together;within God’s house we walked in the throng.15Let death steal over them;let them go down to Sheol alive;for evil is in their dwelling place and in their heart.16But I call to God,and the LORD will save me.17Evening and morning and at noonI utter my complaint and moan,and he hears my voice.18He redeems my soul in safetyfrom the battle that I wage,for many are arrayed against me.19God will give ear and humble them,he who is enthroned from of old, Selahbecause they do not changeand do not fear God.20My companion stretched out his hand against his friends;he violated his covenant.21His speech was smooth as butter,yet war was in his heart;his words were softer than oil,yet they were drawn swords.22Cast your burden on the LORD,and he will sustain you;he will never permitthe righteous to be moved.23But you, O God, will cast them downinto the pit of destruction;men of blood and treacheryshall not live out half their days.But I will trust in you.

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