AB - Psalms - 55

55:1  Hearken, O God, to my prayer; and disregard not my supplication.

55:2  Attend to me, and hearken to me; I was grieved in my meditation, and troubled;

55:3  because of the voice of the enemy, and because of the oppression of the sinner; for they brought iniquity against me, and were wrathfully angry with me.

55:4  My heart was troubled within me; and the fear of death fell upon me.

55:5  Fear and trembling came upon me, and darkness covered me.

55:6  And I said, O, that I had wings as those of a dove! Then would I fly away, and be at rest.

55:7  Lo! I have fled afar off, and lodged in the wilderness. Pause.

55:8  I waited for Him that would deliver me from my distressed spirit, and from the tempest.

55:9  Destroy, O LORD, and divide their tongues, for I have seen iniquity and gainsaying in the city.

55:10  Day and night he shall go round about it upon its walls; iniquity and sorrow and unrighteousness are in the midst of it;

55:11  and usury and craft have not failed from its streets.

55:12  For if an enemy had reproached me, I would have endured it; and if one who hated me had spoken vauntingly against me, I would have hid myself from him.

55:13  But you, O like-minded man, my guide, and my acquaintance,

55:14  who in companionship with me sweetened our food; we walked in the house of God in concord.

55:15  Let death come upon them, and let them go down alive into Hades, for iniquity is in their dwellings, in the midst of them.

55:16  I cried to God, and the Lord hearkened to me.

55:17  Evening and morning and at noon I will declare and make known my needs; and He shall hear my voice.

55:18  He shall deliver my soul in peace from them that draw near to me; for they were with me in many cases.

55:19  God shall hear, and bring them low, even He that has existed from eternity. Pause. For they suffer no recourse, and therefore they have not feared God.

55:20  He has reached forth his hand for retribution; they have profaned His covenant.

55:21  They were scattered at the anger of His countenance, and his heart drew near to them. His words were smoother than oil, yet they are darts.

55:22  Cast your cares upon the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

55:23  But You, O God, shall bring them down to the pit of destruction; bloody and crafty men shall not live out half their days; but I will hope in You, O Lord.