Chapter 55

  {To the chief Musician. On stringed instruments: an instruction. Of David.} Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.  

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  Attend unto me, and answer me: I wander about in my plaint, and I moan aloud,  

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  Because of the voice of the enemy; because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in anger they persecute me.  

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  My heart is writhing within me, and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.  

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  Fear and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.  

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  And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away, and be at rest;  

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  Behold, I would flee afar off, I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah;  

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  I would hasten my escape from the stormy wind, from the tempest.  

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  Swallow [them] up, Lord; divide their tongue: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.  

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  Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof; and iniquity and mischief are in the midst of it.  

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  Perversities are in the midst thereof; and oppression and deceit depart not from its streets.  

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  For it is not an enemy that hath reproached me -- then could I have borne it; neither is it he that hateth me that hath magnified [himself] against me -- then would I have hidden myself from him;  

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  But it was thou, a man mine equal, mine intimate, my familiar friend. ...  

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  We who held sweet intercourse together. To the house of God we walked amid the throng.  

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  Let death seize upon them, let them go down alive into Sheol. For wickedness is in their dwellings, in their midst.  

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  As for me, unto God will I call; and Jehovah will save me.  

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  Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray and moan aloud; and he will hear my voice.  

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  He hath redeemed my soul in peace from the battle against me: for there were many about me.  

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  ùGod will hear, and afflict them: he that is seated of old, (Selah) ... because there is no change in them, and they fear not God.  

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  He hath put forth his hands against such as are at peace with him; he hath profaned his covenant.  

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  Smooth were the milky [words] of his mouth, but his heart was war; his words were softer than oil, yet are they drawn swords.  

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  Cast thy burden upon Jehovah, and he will sustain thee: he will never suffer the righteous to be moved.  

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  And thou, O God, wilt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days. But as for me, I will confide in thee.  

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