Psalm 55
Words: The Psalter of the United Presbyterian Church of North America, 1887 ed.
1 O God, my prayer hear, nor hide
From my entreating voice;
Attend and hear, in my complaint
I mourn and make a noise:
2 For voice of foes, for wicked men
In their oppression great;
Who on me cast iniquity,
And who in wrath me hate.
3 Sore pained within me is my heart,
Death's terrors seize my soul;
Great trembling, fearfulness, and dread
Like waters o'er me roll.
4 O that I, like a dove, had wings,
Said I, then would I flee
Far hence, that I might find a place
Where I at rest might be.
5 Lo, then far off I wander would,
And in the desert stay;
From stormy wind and tempest I
Would haste to flee away.
6 0 Lord, on them destruction bring,
Do thou their tongues divide;
For in the city violence
And strife I have espied.
7 They day and night upon the walls
Do go about it round:
Iniquity and sorrow there
In midst of it are found.
8 Abundant wickedness there is
Within her inward part;
And from her streets deceitfulness
And guile do not depart.
9 He was no foe that me reproached,
For that endure I could;
No hater boasting over me
For hide from him I would.
10 But thou, a man, my equal, guide,
Who my acquaintance wast:
We joined sweet counsels, to God's house
In company we passed.
11 Death shall them seize, and to the grave
Alive they shall go down;
For wickedness is in their homes,
Among them sins abound.
12 But as for me, I'll call on God, Jehovah shall me save. He'll hear me when I cry aloud At morning, noon, and eve.
13 The Lord delivered hath my soul,
That it in peace might be
From battle that against me was;
For many were with me.
14 The Lord shall hear, and them afflict;
Of old he hath abode:
Because they never changes have,
They therefore fear not God.
15 Against the men at peace with him
He hath put forth his hand;
The covenant which he had made,
By breaking he profaned.
16 Than butter smoother were his words,
While in his heart was war;
His speeches softer were than oil,
And yet drawn swords they are.
17 Cast thou thy burden on the Lord,
And he shall thee sustain;
Yea, he shall cause that still unmoved
The righteous shall remain.
18 But thou, O God, in righteousness,
Those men shalt overthrow,
And in destruction's dungeon dark
At last shall lay them low.
19 Deceitful, bloody men shall die
Ere half their days they spend
But I with confidence on thee
Will evermore depend.
2nd Version
1 Unto my earnest prayer give ear,
Nor hide thee, O Most High;
Attend my sad complaint, and hear
My mourning, bitter cry.
2 Because of sinful men I weep,
And persecuting foes,
Who wickedness upon me heap,
And me in wrath oppose.
3 Sore pained in heart, I find no ease;
Death's terrors fill my soul;
Great fear and trembling on me seize,
And horrors o'er me roll.
4 O, had I wings, I sigh and say,
Like some swift dove to roam;
Then would I hasten far away,
And find a peaceful home.
5 Lo, wandering far my rest should be
In some lone desert waste;
I from the windy storm would flee,
And from the tempest haste.
6 Destroyed, Jehovah, let them be;
Divide, confuse their tongue;
For in the city, lo, I see
Great strife and grievous wrong.
7 All day and night they go around
Upon her circling walls,
While sin and sorrow great are found
Within her peopled halls.
8 Yea, crimes of violence and fraud
Within the city meet;
Deceit and guile there stalk abroad,
Nor leave the crowded street.
9 'Twas not a foe who did deride,
For that I could endure;
No hater who thus rose in pride,
Else I would hide secure.
10 But tbou it was, my friend and guide,
We did as equals meet;
We walked to God's house side by side,
And blended counsel sweet.
11 Death shall them seize, and to the tomb
Alive they shall go down;
For wickedness is in their home;
Among them sins abound.
12 But as for me, I'll call on God;
The Lord will safety give;
He'll hear me when I cry aloud
At morning, noon, and eve.
13 He hath restored my soul to peace,
From trouble set me free,
And made the war against me cease,
For many were with me.
14 The everlasting God shall hear,
And bring upon them woe.
They of Jehovah have no fear,
Since they no changes know.
15 Against the men that were his friends
And such as peace preferred,
He wickedly put forth his hands,
And broke his plighted word.
16 His lips more smooth than butter were,
But in his heart was war;
More soft than oil his words appear,
But like drawn swords they are.
17 Upon the Lord thy burden cast,
And he shall thee sustain;
For he will make the just stand fast,
Unmoved shall they remain.
18 But, Lord, thou wilt in judgment sit,
And bring them down to woe;
And in the deep and darksome pit
Of ruin lay them low.
19 The men of wicked, bloody ways,
And all that liars be,
Shall not live out one-half their days;
But I will trust in Thee..
