Psalm 55

New Coverdale Version

Hear my prayer, O God, * and hide not yourself from my petition.

Give heed to me, and hear me, * for I am troubled in my prayer and am tormented,

Because of the cry of the enemy, and oppression by the ungodly; * for they are of a mind to do me great harm, so maliciously are they set against me.

My heart is disquieted within me, * and the fear of death has fallen upon me.

Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, * and a horrible dread has overwhelmed me.

And I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove, * for then would I fly away and be at rest.

Indeed, then I would get away to a far off place * and make my dwelling in the wilderness.

I would make haste to escape, * because of the stormy wind and tempest.”

Confuse their speech, O Lord, and divide them, * for I have seen unrighteousness and strife in the city.

Day and night they go about within her walls; * trouble and sorrow are in the midst of her.

Great wickedness is there; * deceit and guile do not leave her streets.

For it is not an enemy who has done me this dishonor, * for then I could have borne it;

Neither was it my adversary who exalted himself against me, * for then I would have hidden myself from him.

But it was you, my companion, * my comrade and my own familiar friend.

We took sweet counsel together * and walked in the house of God as friends.

Let death come hastily upon them, and let them go down alive into the grave, * for there is wickedness in their hearts.

As for me, I will call upon God, * and the Lord shall save me.

In the evening, and morning, and at noonday will I pray and lament, * and he shall hear my voice.

It is he who shall deliver my soul in peace from the battle that is against me, * for there are many who fight me.

God, who endures for ever, shall hear me and bring them down; * for they never change, nor do they fear God.

My familiar friend has laid his hands upon those who were at peace with him, * and he has broken his covenant.

The words of his mouth were softer than butter, yet war was in his heart; * his words were smoother than oil, and yet they were drawn swords.

O cast your burden upon the Lord, and he shall nourish you, * and shall not allow the righteous to fall for ever.

But as for the bloodthirsty and deceitful, * you, O God, shall bring them into the pit of destruction.

They shall not live out half their days; * but my trust shall be in you, O Lord.