Psalm 55: Cast Thy Burden Upon the Lord
A lament over betrayal by a friend that ends in trust and daily prayer.
Psalm 55 opens with David's anguish and his longing for 'wings like a dove' to flee the city's violence and strife, a fear deeper than the brief attack described in Psalms 54. The pain sharpens when he names the source: not an enemy, but 'a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.'
Give ear to my prayer, O God; And hide not thyself from my supplication.
Attend unto me, and answer me: I am restless in my complaint, and moan,
Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked; For they cast iniquity upon me, And in anger they persecute me.
My heart is sore pained within me: And the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, And horror hath overwhelmed me.
And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then would I fly away, and be at rest.
Lo, then would I wander far off, I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah
I would haste me to a shelter From the stormy wind and tempest.
Destroy, O Lord, `and' divide their tongue; For I have seen violence and strife in the city.
Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: Iniquity also and mischief are in the midst of it.
Wickedness is in the midst thereof: Oppression and guile depart not from its streets.
For it was not an enemy that reproached me; Then I could have borne it: Neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; Then I would have hid myself from him:
But it was thou, a man mine equal, My companion, and my familiar friend.
We took sweet counsel together; We walked in the house of God with the throng.
Let death come suddenly upon them, Let them go down alive into Sheol; For wickedness is in their dwelling, in the midst of them.
As for me, I will call upon God; And Jehovah will save me.
Evening, and morning, and at noonday, will I complain, and moan; And he will hear my voice.
He hath redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me; For they were many `that strove' with me.
God will hear, and answer them, Even he that abideth of old, Selah `The men' who have no changes, And who fear not God.
He hath put forth his hands against such as were at peace with him: He hath profaned his covenant.
His mouth was smooth as butter, But his heart was war: His words were softer than oil, Yet were they drawn swords.
Cast thy burden upon Jehovah, and he will sustain thee: He will never suffer the righteous to be moved.
But thou, O God, wilt bring them down into the pit of destruction: Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; But I will trust in thee. Psalm 56 For the Chief Musician; set to Jonath elem rehokim. `A Psalm' of David. Michtam: when the Philistines took him in Gath.