Psaumes 55

¹ For the Chief Musician ; on stringed instruments. Maschil of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God ; And hide not thyself from my supplication.

² Attend unto me, and answer me : I am restless in my complaint, and moan,

³ Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked ; For they cast iniquity upon me, And in anger they persecute 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.

⁶ And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove ! Then would I fly away, and be at rest.

⁷ Lo, then would I wander far off, I would lodge in the wilderness. [Selah

⁸ I would haste me to a shelter From the stormy wind and tempest.

⁹ Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongue ; For I have seen violence and strife in the city.

¹⁰ Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof : Iniquity also and mischief are in the midst of it.

¹¹ Wickedness is in the midst thereof : Oppression and guile depart not from its 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 companion, and my familiar friend.

¹⁴ We took sweet counsel together ; We walked in the house of God with the throng.

¹⁵ Let death come suddenly upon them, Let them go down alive into Sheol ; For wickedness is in their dwelling, in the midst of them.

¹⁶ As for me, I will call upon God ; And Jehovah will save me.

¹⁷ Evening, and morning, and at noonday, will I complain, and moan ; And he will hear my voice.

¹⁸ He hath redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me ; For they were many that strove with me.

¹⁹ God will hear, and answer them, Even he that abideth of old, [Selah The men who have no changes, And who fear not God.

²⁰ He hath put forth his hands against such as were at peace with him : He hath profaned his covenant.

²¹ His mouth was smooth as butter, But his heart was war : His words were softer than oil, Yet were they drawn swords.

²² Cast thy burden upon Jehovah, and he will sustain thee : He will never suffer the righteous to be moved.

²³ But thou, O God, wilt bring them down into the pit of destruction : Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days ; But I will trust in thee.