Psalm 55 (ASV) - [For the Chief Musician; on

Psa 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.

Psa 55:2

Attend unto me, and answer me:

I am restless in my complaint, and moan,

Psa 55:3

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.

Psa 55:4

My heart is sore pained within me:

And the terrors of death are fallen upon me.

Psa 55:5

Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me,

And horror hath overwhelmed me.

Psa 55:6

And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove!

Then would I fly away, and be at rest.

Psa 55:7

Lo, then would I wander far off,

I would lodge in the wilderness.

[Selah

Psa 55:8

I would haste me to a shelter

From the stormy wind and tempest.

Psa 55:9

Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongue;

For I have seen violence and strife in the city.

Psa 55:10

Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof:

Iniquity also and mischief are in the midst of it.

Psa 55:11

Wickedness is in the midst thereof:

Oppression and guile depart not from its streets.

Psa 55:12

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:

Psa 55:13

But it was thou, a man mine equal,

My companion, and my familiar friend.

Psa 55:14

We took sweet counsel together;

We walked in the house of God with the throng.

Psa 55:15

Let death come suddenly upon them,

Let them go down alive into Sheol;

For wickedness is in their dwelling, in the midst of them.

Psa 55:16

As for me, I will call upon God;

And Jehovah will save me.

Psa 55:17

Evening, and morning, and at noonday, will I complain, and moan;

And he will hear my voice.

Psa 55:18

He hath redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me;

For they were many that strove with me.

Psa 55:19

God will hear, and answer them,

Even he that abideth of old,

[Selah

The men who have no changes,

And who fear not God.

Psa 55:20

He hath put forth his hands against such as were at peace with him:

He hath profaned his covenant.

Psa 55:21

His mouth was smooth as butter,

But his heart was war:

His words were softer than oil,

Yet were they drawn swords.

Psa 55:22

Cast thy burden upon Jehovah, and he will sustain thee:

He will never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Psa 55:23

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.

Psalm 55 :: American Standard Version (ASV)

Prayer for the Destruction of the Treacherous.