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.'
To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, [A Psalm] of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.
\\55:1\\To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.
\\55:2\\Attend to me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;
\\55:3\\Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.
\\55:4\\My heart is severely pained within me: and the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
\\55:5\\Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
\\55:6\\And I said, O that I had wings like a dove! for then I would fly away, and be at rest.
\\55:7\\Lo, then I would wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.
\\55:8\\I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.
\\55:9\\Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
\\55:10\\Day and night they go about it upon its walls: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.
\\55:11\\Wickedness is in the midst of it: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
\\55:12\\For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that magnified himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:
\\55:13\\But it was thou, a man my equal, my guide, and my acquaintance.
\\55:14\\We took sweet counsel together, and walked to the house of God in company.
\\55:15\\Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.
\\55:16\\As for me, I will call upon God: and the LORD will save me.
\\55:17\\Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he will hear my voice.
\\55:18\\He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.
\\55:19\\God will hear and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.
\\55:20\\He hath put forth his hands against such as are at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.
\\55:21\\The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.
\\55:22\\Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he will sustain thee: he will never suffer the righteous to be moved.
\\55:23\\But thou, O God, wilt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.