Psalm LV

Lord hear my suit, hide not thy self
From my intreating [earnest] voice.

Attend and hear me in my plaint;
Regard my [sad and] mournful noise.

Because of enemies slandrous voice,
And [wicked] mens oppression great;
On me they cast iniquity,
And me in [cruel] wrath they hate.

My heart in me sore pained is,
Death's [shaking] terrors on me fall.

On me come trembling fear; and dread
Hath cover'd me [o're whelm'd] withall.

O that I had wings like a dove,
Said I, [away] then would I flee;
And seek out some retiring place,
Where I in [quiet] rest might be.

Lo then would I wander far off,
And in the [remote] desart stay.

From windy storms and tempests I
Would [for peace] hast to scape away.

Destroy thou them, O Lord, and let
Their [combin'd] tongues divided be;

For violence and hurtful strife
I in the [envious] City see.
Day and night on the walls thereof,
They [fiercely] go about it round;
Contriv'd mischief and hurtfulness
[There] in [the] midst of it are found.

Even in the midst and chiefest part
There [dwells and] reigneth wickedness;
And from her streets do not depart
Guile [falshood] and deceitfulness.

It was no foe that me reproach'd,
For this [from such] I could endure;
No known foe did against me rise,
Else hid [from him] I'd me secure.

But he mine equal and my guide,
And my familiar [neighbour] was;

Together we sweet counsel took,
And to God's house [conjoyn'd] did pass.

Let death seize on them; let them go
Down quick into the [wicked's] grave;
For in their dwellings wickedness
They for their [chosen] business have.

I'le call on God, he will me save;
I'le pray [to him] aloud I'le cry,

Evening and morning, and at noon;
My [craving] voice he'll not deny.

Against me when they raised war,
He did my soul [keep and] set free;
And he preserv'd me as in peace,
For [through him] many were with me.

My God shall hear, and them afflict,
[Even God] who is the same of old.
They fear not God, because they have
No changes, but [in sin] are bold.

Against them that with him had peace
He hath put forth his treacherous hand;
The Covenant which he hath made,
By breaking [falsly] he prophan'd.

Smoother than butter were his words,
While in his heart [design'd] was war;
His speeches were softer than Oyl,
But [hurtful] as drawn swords they are.

Cast thou thy burden on the Lord,
And he shall [surely] thee sustain:
And by his grace the righteous men
Unmoved [ever] shall remain.

But thou, Lord, wilt these wicked men,
In justice [judge and] overthrow;
And in destruction's dismal pit
Wilt [shortly] cast and lay them low.
The bloody and deceitful men
Shall not live [out one] half their days;
But upon thee with confidence
[My God] I will rely always.