Psalms 55

NEW JERUSALEM	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 [For the choirmaster For strings Poem Of David] God, hear my prayer, do not hide away from my plea,	1 Unto the end, in verses, understanding for David.
2 give me a hearing, answer me, my troubles give me no peace. I shudder	2 Hear, O God, my prayer, and despise not my supplication:
3 at the enemy's shouts, at the outcry of the wicked; they heap up charges against me, in their angerbring hostile accusations against me.
4 My heart writhes within me, the terrors of death come upon me,	4 the same are darts.
5 fear and trembling overwhelm me, and shuddering grips me.	5 be attentive to me and hear me. I am grieved in my exercise; and am troubled,
6 And I say, 'Who will give me wings like a dove, to fly away and find rest?'	6 at the voice of the enemy, and at the tribulation of the sinner. For they have cast iniquities upon me: and in wrath they were troublesome to me.
7 How far I would escape, and make a nest in the desert!Pause	7 My heart is troubled within me: and the fear of death is fallen upon me.
8 I would soon find a refuge from the storm of abuse, from the	8 Fear and trembling are come upon me: and darkness hath covered me.
9 destructive tempest, Lord, from the flood of their tongues. For I see violence and strife in the city,	9 And I said: Who will give me wings like a dove, and I will fly and be at rest?
10 day and night they make their rounds along the city wal s, Inside live malice and mischief,	10 Lo, I have gone far off flying away; and I abode in the wilderness.
11 inside lives destruction, tyranny and treachery never absent from its central square.	11 I waited for him that hath saved me from pusillanimity of spirit, and a storm.
12 Were it an enemy who insulted me, that I could bear; if an opponent pitted himself against me, I couldturn away from him.	12 Cast down, O Lord, and divide their tongues; for I have seen iniquity and contradiction in the city.
13 But you, a person of my own rank, a comrade and dear friend,	13 Day and night shall iniquity surround it upon its walls: and in the midst thereof are labour,
14 to whom I was bound by intimate friendship in the house of God! May they recoil in disorder,	14 and injustice. And usury and deceit have not departed from its streets.
15 may death descend on them, may they go down alive to Sheol, since evil shares their home withthem.	15 For if my enemy had reviled me, I would verily have borne with it. And if he that hated me had spoken great things against me, I would perhaps have hidden myself from him.
16 For my part, I appeal to God, and Yahweh saves me;	16 But thou a man of one mind, my guide, and my familiar,
17 evening, morning, noon, I complain and I groan. He hears my cry,	17 Who didst take sweetmeats together with me: in the house of God we walked with consent.
18 he ransoms me and gives me peace from the feud against me, for they are taking me to law.	18 Let death come upon them, and let them go down alive into hell. For there is wickedness in their dwellings: in the midst of them.
19 But God wil listen and wil humble them, he who has been enthroned from the beginning; no changeof heart for them, for they do not fear God.	19 But I have cried to God: and the Lord will save me.
20 They attack those at peace with them, going back on their oaths;	20 Evening and morning, and at noon I will speak and declare: and he shall hear my voice.
21 though their mouth is smoother than butter, enmity is in their hearts; their words more soothing thanoil, yet sharpened like swords.	21 He shall redeem my soul in peace from them that draw near to me: for among many they were with me.
22 Unload your burden onto Yahweh and he wil sustain you; never wil he allow the upright to stumble.	22 God shall hear, and the Eternal shall humble them. For there is no change with them, and they have not feared God:
23 You, God, wil thrust them down to the abyss of destruction, men bloodthirsty and deceptive, beforehalf their days are spent. For my part, I put my trust in you.	23 he hath stretched forth his hand to repay. They have defiled his covenant,
	24 they are divided by the wrath Of his countenance, and his heart hath drawn near. His words are smoother than oil, and
	25 Cast thy care upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall not suffer the just to waver for ever.