Psalm 55
1 Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.
1 Hear my prayer, O God, and hide not thy- | self from • my pe- | tition. ||
2 Take heed unto me, and hear me, * how I | mourn • in my | prayer, • and am | vexed; ||
2 Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;
3 Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.
3 The enemy crieth so, and the ungodly cometh | on so | fast; ||
for they are minded to do me some mischief, * so ma- | 3 liciously | are they | set a•gainst me. ||
4 My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
4 My heart is dis- | quiet•ed with- | in me, ||
and the | fear of | death is | fallen up•on me. ||
5 Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
5 Fearfulness and | trembling • are | come up•on me, ||
and an | horri•ble | dread hath • over- | whelmed me. ||
6 And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.
6 And I said, O that I had | wings • like a | dove! ||
for then would I flee a- | way, and | be at | rest. ||
7 Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.
7 Lo, then would I get me away far off, and re- | main • in the | wilder•ness. ||
8 I would make haste to escape, * because of the | stormy | wind and | tempest. ||
8 I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.
9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
9 Destroy their tongues, O | Lord, • and di- | vide them; ||
for I have spied un- | righteous•ness and | strife • in the | city. ||
10 Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.
10 Day and night they go about with- | in the | walls there•of: ||
mischief also and | sorrow • are | in the | midst of • it. ||
11 Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
11 Wickedness | is there- | in; ||
deceit and | guile • go not | 3 out of her | 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:
12 For it is not an open enemy that hath done me | this dis- | honour; ||
for | then I | could have | borne it; ||
13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.
13 Neither was it mine adversary that did magnify him- | self a- | gainst me; ||
for then peradventure 3 I | would have | hid my•self | from him; ||
14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.
14 But it was even | thou, • my com- | panion, ||
my guide, and mine | own fa- | miliar | friend. ||
15 Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.
15 We took sweet | 3 counsel to- | gether, ||
and walked in the | house of | God as | friends. ||
16 As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me.
16 Let death come hastily upon them, * and let them go down a- | live in•to the | pit; ||
for wickedness is in their | dwellings, | and a- | mong them. ||
17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
17 As for me, I will call upon God, * and the | Lord shall | save me. ||
18 In the evening, and morning, and at noon-day will I pray, and that instantly; * and | he shall | hear my | voice. ||
18 He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.
19 God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.
19 It is he that hath delivered my soul in peace from the | battle that • was a- | gainst me; ||
3 for | there were | many • that | strove • with me. ||
20 He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.
20 Yea, even God, that endureth for ever, shall hear me, and | bring them | down; ||
for they | will not | turn, nor • fear | God. ||
21 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.
† 21 He laid his hands upon | such as • be at | peace ||
with him, * | and he | brake his | coven•ant. ||
22 Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
22 The words of his mouth were softer than butter, having | war • in his | heart; ||
his words were smoother than oil, and | yet • be they | very | swords. ||
23 But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.
23 O cast thy burden upon the Lord, and | he shall | nourish • thee, ||
and shall not suffer the | 3 righteous to | fall for | ever. ||
24 3 And | as for | them, ||
thou, O God, shalt | bring them • into the | 3 pit of de- | struction. ||
25 The blood-thirsty and deceitful men shall not live out | half their | days: ||
nevertheless, my | trust shall • be in | thee, O | Lord. ||
About the Pointing
The text of the Coverdale Psalter follows the 1928 American Book of Common Prayer. The pointing, suitably adapted, is taken from Charles Macpherson, Edward C. Bairstow, and Percy C. Buck, The English Psalter (Novello & Co., 1925).