Psalms 54
1 For the end, among Hymns of
instruction by David.
2 Hearken, O God, to my prayer; and
disregard not my supplication.
3 Attend to me, and hearken to me: I
was grieved in my meditation, and troubled;
4 because 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.
5 My heart was troubled within me; and
the fear of death fell upon me. 6 Fear
and trembling came upon me, and darkness covered me.
7 And I said, O that I had wings as
those of a dove! then would I flee away, and be at
rest. 8 Lo! I have fled afar off, and
lodged in the wilderness. Pause. 9 I
waited for him that should deliver me from distress of spirit and tempest.
10 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their
tongues: for I have seen iniquity and gainsaying in the city.
11 Day and night
aOr, it, sc. iniquity.he shall go round about it upon its walls: iniquity and sorrow and
unrighteousness are in the midst of it;
12 and usury and craft have not
failed from its streets.
13 For 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.
14 But thou, O man likeminded, my
guide, and my acquaintance, 15 who in
companionship with me sweetened our food: we walked
in the house of God in concord.
16 Let death come upon them, and let
them go down alive into Hades, for iniquity is in their dwellings, in the
midst of them.
17 I cried to God, and the Lord
hearkened to me. 18 Evening, and
morning, and at noon I will declare and make known
my wants: and he shall hear my voice.
19 He shall deliver my soul in peace
from them that draw nigh to me: for they were with me in many
cases.
20 God shall hear, and bring them
low, even he that has existed from eternity. Pause.
bOr, 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. 21 He has reached
forth his hand for retribution; they have profaned his covenant.
22 They were scattered at the anger
of his countenance, and his heart drew nigh
cCompare Heb. and A. V.them. His words were smoother than oil, yet are they darts.
23 d1 Pet. 5. 7.
Cast thy care upon the Lord, and he shall
eOr, nourish.sustain thee; he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
24 But thou, O God, shalt bring them
down to the pit of destruction; bloody and crafty men shall not live out half
their days; but I will hope in thee, O Lord.