Psalm 55

Meter 668.668

To the cheef Musitian, upon Neginoth, a Maschil, a Psalm of David. It personated the faithfull, complaining & petitioning against the inhumanitie of their foes. It deciphers, also, false brethren, declares their destruction & the securitie of the Elect. It may be used as the former.

1. О God, my praiers hear!
Hide not away thine eare
But hear & cast on me thine eye,
For loud my foes doe roare.
The wicked greeve me sore,
And therfore Lord, thus loud I crie.

2. With wrongs, they me persue;
A wrathfull spight they shewe,
And I at hart am greatlie vext:
Death’s torments me oppresse;
I shake through fearfulness;
With horrors great, I am perplext.

3. I sayd Dove’s wings, had I,
To rest, I then would flie.
Lo, then farr hence I would abide.
I then would haste away,
And in some Desert stay,
Which from the Tempest me should hide. (Selah.)

4 Destroy & slitt their tongues;
For strife, O Lord, & wrongs,
Possesse their Cittie night & day,
In midst thereof I spi’de;
Sinn, fraud, & guile abide;
These in her streats still made their stay.

5. A foe’s contempt or scorne,
I could have shund or borne;
But me, no publike foe abus’de:
It was my trusted Peer;
As freinds, we freindlie were,
And we God’s house togither us’d.

6. Arrest them, Death & Hell,
With whome such Mischeevs dwell:
For I upon the Lord will call.
To God at night I’le pray,
At morninge, at nooneday;
And me, both hear & save, he shall.

7. In warr, he gave me peace,
And me will still release:
Ev’n me, the Lord will hear and save.
But God will punish them: (Selah.)
For they his feare contemn,
Because, that they no Changes have.

8. Their hands, the Peace did breake,
(Where they a league did make)
And though their speach most freindlie were,
Yet, are sometime their words
Like darts or naked swords.
Let God, therefore, thy Burthen bear.

9. For God is thy defence,
He gardeth innocence;
And Sinners downe to Hell will thrust.
Not half their daies they live
Who murther or deceive:
But in the Lord, I put my trust.

Many & greevous (O Lord) are those troubles which exercise thy Children, especially in those places where prophanes or false worship is openly approoved: but the greatest Afflictions are occasioned by Hypocrites, False breathren, & those who abuse us under cullour of Religeon or by pretences of dearest Amitie. Defend us therfor, O God, from those harmfull Serpents; Give us the wings of Dovelike innocence to carry us above their snares: Grant us those enterchanges of Prosperitie & Adversity which may keep us both in thy Fear & Love: Suffer not the tribulations of the world, nor the temptations of the Devill, nor the miseries of the Flesh, to oppresse us: But let us lay all our burthens upon thee confidently; Trust in thee firmly; Seek thee duly; love thee sincerely; & enjoy thy gratious protection for ever more. Amen.

Meter: 668.668
Tune (First Lines): Ascalon: Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of nature; Beautiful Savior, King of creation.