Psalm 54
For the End; in hymns; concerning understanding; by David.
Give ear to my prayer, O God, And do not despise my supplication;
Attend to me, and hear me. I am vexed in my prayer, and troubled
By the enemy’s voice and by the sinner’s affliction; For they turned their lawlessness upon me, And in wrath they were indignant with me.
My heart was troubled within me, And the terror of death fell on me.
Fear and trembling came upon me, And the darkness covered me.
I said, “Who will give me wings like a dove, And I will fly away and be at rest?
Behold, I fled far away, And lodged in the wilderness.” (pause)
I wait for the One who saves me From faintheartedness and storm.
Drown them in the sea, O Lord, and divide their tongues; For I see lawlessness and strife in the city.
Day and night, it shall surround her upon her walls; Lawlessness and trouble and wrongdoing are in her midst;
And usury and treachery Have not ceased from her squares.
For if an enemy reviled me, I would have endured it; And if one hating me boasted against me, I would have hidden from him.
But it was you, a man my equal, My guide and my friend,
Who together with me sweetened our meals; In God’s house we walked in unity.
Let death come upon them, And let them go down alive into Hades; Because evils are in their dwellings, in the very midst of them.
But I cried out to God, And the Lord heard me.
Evening and morning and midday, I shall tell; I shall proclaim, and He will hear my voice.
He will redeem my soul in peace from those who draw near to me, For they were with me in abundance.
God shall hear, and humble them, He who exists before the ages. (pause) For there is no change in them, And they have not feared God.
He stretched forth His hand in punishment; They defiled His covenant.
They were scattered by the wrath of His face, And His heart drew near; His words were softened above oil, And they are arrows.
Cast your care upon the Lord, And he shall support you; He will never allow the righteous to be moved.
But You, O God, will bring them down into the pit of decay; Men of blood and deceit Shall not live even half their days. But I will hope in You, O Lord.