rd

Psalms 55

1 David being in great heaviness and distress complaineth of the crueltie of Saúl, 13 And of the falsehood of his familiar acquaintance, 17 Uttering most ardent affections to move the Lord to pitie him. 22 After being assured of deliverance, he setteth forth the grace of God as though he had already obtained his request.
¶ To him that excelleth on Neginóth. A Psalm of David to give instruction.
1.Hear amy prayer, ô God, and hide not thy self from my supplication.
2.Hearken unto me, and answer me: I mourn in my prayer, and make a noise,
3.For the bvoyce of the enemie, and for the vexation of the wicked, because cthey have brought iniquitie upon me, and furiously hate me.
4.Mine heart trembleth within me, and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
5.Fear and trembling are come upon me, and an horrible fear hath dcovered me.
6.And I said, Oh that I had wings like a doove: then would I eflie away and rest.
7.Behold, I would take my flight far off, and lodge in the wilderness, Sélah.
8.He would make hast for my deliverance ffrom the stormie wind and tempest.
9.Destroy, ô Lord, and gdevide their tongues: for I have seen crueltie and strife in the city.
10.Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: both hiniquity and mischief are in the middes of it.
11.Wickedness is in the middes thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
12.Surely mine ienemie did not diffame me: for I could have born it, neither did mine adversarie exalt him self against me: for I would have hid me from him.
13.But it was thou, ô man, even my kcompanion, my guide and my familiar:
14.Which delited in consulting together, and went into the House of God as companions.
15.Let death seize upon them: let them lgo down quick into the grave: for wickedness is in their dwellings, even in the middes of them.
16.But I will call unto God, and the Lord will save me.
17.Evening and morning, and at noon will I pray, mand make a noise, and he will hear my voyce.
18.He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle, that was against me: for nmanie were with me.
19.God shal hear and afflict them, even he that reigneth of old, Sélah. because they ohave no changes, therefore they fear not God.
20.He played his hand upon such, as be at peace with him, and he brake his covenant.
21.The words of his mouth were softer then butter, yet war was in his heart: his words were more gentle then oyle, yet they were swords.
22.Cast thy ^burden upon the Lord, and he shal nourish thee: he wil not suffer the righteous to fall for qever.
23.And thou, ô God, shalt bring them down into the pit of corruption: the bloodie, and deceitful men shal not live rhalf their days: but I will trust in thee.

Notes

1-a.
The earnestness of his prayer declares the vehemencie of his grief, in so much as he is compelled to burst out into cries.
3-b.
For the threatenings of Saul and his adherents.
3-c.
They have diffamed me as a wicked person: or, they have imagined my destruction.
5-d.
There was no part of him that was not astonied with extreme fear.
6-e.
Fear had driven him to so great distress, that he wished to be hid in some wilderness, and to be banished from that kingdom, which God had promised that he should enjoy.
8-f.
From the cruel rage and tyranny of Saul
9-g.
As in the confusion of Babylon, when the wicked conspired against God.
10-h.
All laws and good orders are broken, and only vice and dissolution reigns under Saul.
12-i.
If my open enemy had sought my hurt, I could the better have avoided him.
13-k.
Which was not only joined to me in friendship and counsel in worldly matters, but also in religion.
15-l.
As Korah, Dathan and Abiram, Num. 16.32.
17-m.
Which signifies a fervent mind and sure trust to obtain his petition, which thing made him earnest at all times in prayer.
18-n.
Even the Angels of God fought on my side against my enemies, 2 Kings 6.16.
19-o.
But their prosperous estate still continues.
20-p.
I did not provoke him, but was at peace with him, yet he made war against me.
22-^.
Or gift: to wit, which you would that God should give you.
22-q.
Though for their bettering and trial he suffer them to slip for a time.
23-r.
Though they sometimes live longer, yet their life is cursed of God, unquiet and worse then any death.