{Psa 35-41, 53, 55, 58 ^**}

    ^55:1 Listen to my prayer, O God and do not hide yourself from my supplication. ^55:2 Attend to me and answer me. I am restless in my complaint and moan, ^55:3 from the voice of the enemy, from the oppression of the wicked. Because they shake down iniquity upon me and they persecute me in anger.

    ^55:4 My heart is greatly pained within me and the terrors of death have fallen upon me. ^55:5 Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me and horror has overwhelmed me.

    ^55:6 And I said, O that I had wings like a dove! Then I would fly away and be at rest. ^55:7 Behold, then I would wander far off. I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah. ^55:8 I would hasten myself to a shelter from the stormy wind and tempest.

    ^55:9 Destroy, O Lord, divide their tongue, because I have seen violence and strife in the city. ^55:10 Day and night they go about it, upon the walls of it. Iniquity and evil also are in the midst of it. ^55:11Wickedness is in the midst of it. Oppression and deceit do not depart from its streets.

    ^55:12 Because it was not an enemy who reproached me. Then I could have borne it. Neither was it he who hated me that magnified himself against me. Then I would have hid myself from him.

    ^55:13 But it was you, a man my equal, my companion and my familiar friend. ^55:14 We took sweet counsel together. We walked in the house of God with the crowd.

    ^55:15 Let death come suddenly upon them. Let them go down alive into Sheol. Because wickedness is in their dwelling, in the midst of them.

    ^55:16 As for me, I will call upon God and Jehovah will save me. ^55:17 Evening and morning and at noonday, I will complain and moan. And he will hear my voice.

    ^55:18 He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, because there were many by me.

    ^55:19 God will hear and respond to them, (even he who abides of long-ago), Selah, men who have no changes and who do not fear God. ^55:20 He has put forth his hands against such as were at peace with him. He has profaned his covenant.

    ^55:21 His mouth was smooth as butter, but his heart was war. His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords. ^55:22 (Cast your burden upon Jehovah and he will sustain you. He will not allow the righteous man to be shaken everlasting.)

    ^55:23 But you, O God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction. Bloodthirsty and deceitful men will not live out half their days, but I will trust in you.