Psalms 54
1Listen, O God, to my prayer; and disregard not my supplication. 1
2Attend to me, and listen to me: I was grieved in my meditation, and troubled; 1
3because of the voice of the enemy, and because of the oppression of the sinner: for they brought iniquity against me, and were wrathfully angry with me. 1
4My heart was troubled within me; and the fear of death fell upon me. 1
5Fear and trembling came upon me, and darkness covered me. 1
6And I said, O that I had wings as those of a dove! then would I flee away, and be at rest. 1
7Behold! I have fled afar off, and lodged in the wilderness. Pause. 1
8I waited for him that should deliver me from distress of spirit and tempest. 1
9Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen iniquity and gain saying in the city. 1
10Day and night + 54:10 Or, it, sc. iniquity. he shall go round about it upon its walls: iniquity and sorrow and unrighteousness are in the midst of it; 1
11and usury and craft have not failed from its streets. 1
12For if an enemy had reproached me, I would have endured it; and if one who hated me had spoken vauntingly against me, I would have hid myself from him. 1
13But you, O man like minded, my guide, and my acquaintance, 1
14who in companionship with me sweetened our food: we walked in the house of God in concord. 1
15Let death come upon them, and let them go down alive into Hades, for iniquity is in their dwellings, in the midst of them. 1
16I cried to God, and the Lord listened to me. 1
17Evening, and morning, and at noon I will declare and make known my wants: and he shall hear my voice. 1
18He shall deliver my soul in peace from them that draw near to me: for they were with me in many cases. 1
19God shall hear, and bring them low, even he that has existed from eternity. Pause. + 54:19 Or, they have nothing to give in exchange, q. d. to redeem their souls. Compare Ps. 48. 7,8. Mark 8:37. For they suffer no reverse, and therefore they have not feared God. 1
20He has reached forth his hand for retribution; they have profaned his covenant. 1
21They were scattered at the anger of his countenance, and his heart drew near + 54:21 Compare Heb. and A. V. them. His words were smoother than oil, yet are they darts. 1
22+ 54:22 1 Pe 5:7 Cast your care upon the Lord, and he shall + 54:22 Or, nourish. sustain you; he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. 1
23But you, O God, shall bring them down to the pit of destruction; bloody and crafty men shall not live out half their days; but I will hope in you, O Lord.