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The Psalmes of David Translated Into Lyrick-Verse

according to the scope, of the Original. And Illustrated, with a Short Argument, and a breife Prayer, or Meditation; before, & after, every Psalme. By George Wither

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102

Psa. 55.

[_]

To the cheef Musitian Neginoth Maschil, a Psalm of David. It personatet 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 vsed as the former.

[1]

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

2

With wrongs, they mee persue,
A wrathfull spight they shewe,
And, I, at hart am greatlie vext:
Deaths torments mee oppresse,
I shake through fearfullnes,
With horrors great, I am perplext.

3

I sayd; Doves 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 frō the Tempest mee should hide.

(Selah.)


4

Destroy & slitt their tongues;
For, strife, oh Lord, & wrongs,

103

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 foes contempt, or scorne,
I could have shund or borne;
But, mee no publike foe abus'de:
It was my trusted Peer;
As freinds, wee freindlie were,
And, wee God's house togither vs'd.

6

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

7

In warr, he gave mee peace,
And, mee 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.

8

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.