Psalm 55 Exaudi, Deus
1 Hear my prayer, O God; *
do not hide yourself from my pe-ti-tion.
2 Listen to me and an–swer me; *
I have no peace, because of my cares.
3 I am shaken by the noise of the en-emy *
and by the pressure of the wic-ked;
4 For they have cast an evil spell up-on me *
and are set against me in fu-ry.
5 My heart quakes with-in me, *
and the terrors of death have fallen up-on me.
6 Fear and trembling have come o–ver me, *
and horror over-whelms me.
7 And I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! *
I would fly away and be at rest.
8 I would flee to a far-off place *
and make my lodging in the wil-derness.
9 I would hasten to es-cape *
from the stormy wind and temp-est.”
10 Swallow them up, O Lord; confound their speech; *
for I have seen violence and strife in the cit-y.
11 Day and night the watchmen make their rounds upon her walls, *
but trouble and misery are in the midst of her.
12 There is corruption at her heart; *
her streets are never free of oppression and de-ceit.
13 For had it been an adversary who taunted me, then I could have borne it; *
or had it been an enemy who vaunted herself against me, then I could have hidden from her.
14 But it was you, a woman after my own heart, *
my companion, my own fami-liar friend.
15 We took sweet counsel to-ge-ther, *
and walked with the throng in the house of God.
16 Let death come upon them suddenly; let them go down alive to the grave; *
for wickedness is in their dwellings, in their ve-ry midst.
17 But I will call upon God, *
and the LORD will de-liv-er me.
18 In the evening, in the morning, and at noonday, I will complain and la-ment, *
and she will hear my voice.
19 She will bring me safely back from the battle waged a-gainst me; *
for there are many who fight me.
20 God, who is enthroned of old, will hear me and bring them down; *
they never change; they do not fear God.
21 My companion stretched forth her hand against her com-rade; *
she has broken her cov-enant.
22 Her speech is softer than but-ter, *
but war is in her heart.
23 Her words are smoother than oil, *
but they are drawn swords.
24 Cast your burden upon the LORD, and she will sus-tain you; *
she will never let the right-eous stum-ble.
25 For you will bring the bloodthirsty and de-ceit-ful *
down to the pit of destruction, O God.
26 They shall not live out half their days, *
but I will put my trust in you.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spir-it: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. A-men.