Psalms 54 — LXXSB

(55) For the end, amongst Hymns of instruction by David.

54Verse 1Listen, O God, to my prayer; and disregard not my supplication.
^{Verse 2}Attend to me, and listen to me: I was grieved in my meditation, and troubled;
^{Verse 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.
^{Verse 4}My heart was troubled within me; and the fear of death fell upon me.
^{Verse 5}Fear and trembling came upon me, and darkness covered me.
^{Verse 6}And I said, O that I had wings as those of a dove! then would I flee away, and be at rest.
^{Verse 7}Behold! I have fled afar off, and lodged in the wilderness. Pause.
^{Verse 8}I waited for him that should deliver me from distress of spirit and tempest.
^{Verse 9}Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen iniquity and gain saying in the city.
^{Verse 10}Day and night⁺he shall go round about it upon its walls: iniquity and sorrow and unrighteousness are in the midst of it;
^{Verse 11}and usury and craft have not failed from its streets.
^{Verse 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.
^{Verse 13}But you, O man like minded, my guide, and my acquaintance,
^{Verse 14}who in companionship with me sweetened our food: we walked in the house of God in concord.
^{Verse 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.
^{Verse 16}I cried to God, and the Lord listened to me.
^{Verse 17}Evening, and morning, and at noon I will declare and make known my wants: and he shall hear my voice.
^{Verse 18}He shall deliver my soul in peace from them that draw near to me: for they were with me in many cases.
^{Verse 19}God shall hear, and bring them low, even he that has existed from eternity. Pause.⁺For they suffer no reverse, and therefore they have not feared God.
^{Verse 20}He has reached forth his hand for retribution; they have profaned his covenant.
^{Verse 21}They were scattered at the anger of his countenance, and his heart drew near⁺them. His words were smoother than oil, yet are they darts.
^{Verse 22}Cast your care upon the Lord, and he shall⁺sustain you; he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
^{Verse 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.