Psalm 55

Chant Psalter

Natural Speech Rhythm

EXAUDI, DEUS.

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. ||
3 The enemy crieth so, and the ungodly cometh | on so | fast ||
for they are minded to do me some mischief; * so ma- | liciously | are they | set a•gainst 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 up•on me ||
and an | horri•ble | dread hath • over- | whelmed me. ||
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 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. ||
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 with- | in the | walls there•of ||
mischief also and | sorrow • are | in the | midst of • it. ||
11 Wickedness | is there- | in ||
deceit and | guile • go not | out of their | streets. ||
12 For it is not an open enemy, that hath done me | this dis- | honour ||
for | then I | could have | borne it. ||
13 Neither was it mine adversary, that did magnify him- | self a- | gainst me ||
for then peradventure I | would have | hid my•self | from him. ||
14 But it was even | thou, • my com- | panion ||
my guide, and mine | own fa- | miliar | friend. ||
15 We took sweet | counsel to- | gether ||
and walked in the | house of | God as | friends. ||
16 Let death come hastily upon them, * and let them go down | quick • into | hell ||
for wickedness is in their | dwellings, | and a- | mong them. ||
17 As for me, I will call upon God; * and the | Lord shall | save me. ||
18 In the evening, and morning, and at noonday will I pray, and that instantly: * and | he shall | hear my | voice. ||
19 It is he that hath delivered my soul in peace from the | battle that • was a- | gainst me ||
for | there were | many | with me. ||
20 Yea, even God, that endureth for ever, shall hear me, and | bring them | down ||
for they | will not | turn, nor • fear | God. ||
*
Or, 21 He laid his hands upon | such as • be at | peace • with him, ||
and | — he | brake his | coven•ant. ||
§ 21 He laid his hands upon | such as • be at | peace ||
with him, * | and he | brake his | coven•ant. ||
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 O cast thy burden upon the Lord, and | he shall | nourish • thee ||
and shall not suffer the | righteous to | fall for | ever. ||
24 And | as for | them ||
thou, O God, shalt | bring them • into the | pit of de- | struction. ||
25 The bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out | half their | days ||
nevertheless, my | trust shall • be in | thee, O | Lord. ||
Glory | be • to the | Father, ||
and to the Son, | and • to the | Holy | Ghost; ||
As it | was in • the be- | ginning, ||
is now, and ever shall be, * | world with•out | end. A- | men. ||