The psalter of David with titles and collects according to the matter of each Psalme : whereunto is added Devotions for the help and assistance of all Christian people, in all occasions and necessities.

PSALME 55.

A Prayer for deliverance from treachery, and the conspiracies of our secret Enemies.

HEar my prayer, O God: and hide not thy selfe from my petition.

2 Take heed unto me, and hear me: how I mourn in my prayer, and am vexed.

3 The enemy crieth so, and the ungodly commeth on so fast: for they are minded to do me some mischief, so maliciously are they set against me.

4 My heart is disquieted within me: and the feare of death is fallen upon me.

5 Fearfulnesse and trembling are come upon me: and an horrible dread hath overwhelmed me.

6 And I said, O that I had wings like a dove: for then would I flie away, and be at rest.

7 Lo then would I get me away afarre off: and remain in the wildernesse.

8 I would make haste to escape: because of the stormy winde and tempest.

9 Destroy their tongues (O Lord) and divide them: for I have spied unrighteousnesse and strife in the City.

10 Day and night they goe about within the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the mids of it.

11 Wickednesse is therein: deceit and guile go not out of their streets.

12 For it is not an open enemy that hath done me this dishonour: for then I could have born it.

13 Neither was it mine adversary that did magnifie himself against me: for then (peradventure) I would have hid my self from him.

14 But it was even thou my companion: my guide and mine own familiar friend.

15 We took sweet counsell together: and walked in the house of God as friends.

16 Let death come hastily upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickednesse is in their dwel∣lings, and among them.

17 As for me, I will call upon God: and the Lord shall save me.

18 In the evening, and morning, and at noon day will I pray, and that instantly: and he shall hear my voyce.

19 It is he that hath delivered my soul in peace, from the battell that was against me: for there were many with mee.

20 Yea, even God that endureth for ever, shall heare me, and bring them down: for they will not turn, nor feare God.

21 He laid his hands upon such as be at peace with him: and he brake his covenant.

22 The words of his mouth were softer then butter, having warre in his heart: his words were smoother then oyle, and yet be they very swords.

23 O cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall nourish thee: and shall not suffer the righteous to fall for ever.

24 And as for them: thou, O God, shalt bring them into the pit of destruction.

25 The bloud-thirsty and deceitfull men shall not live out half their dayes: neverthelesse, my trust shall be in thee, O Lord.

The Prayer.

O Eternall God, who hast promised to nou∣rish and defend all them that cast their burden upon thee, deliver the souls of thy ser∣vants in peace from the battell that is against us: Fearfulnesse and trembling are come up∣on us, and the fear of death is fallen upon us, for our Enemies are maliciously set against us, and minded to do us mischief, and we know not whither to flee away or be at rest, for mis∣chief and sorrow are round about us. O rescue us from the publike enmity of our open adver∣saries, and from the secret conspiracies of all our private Enemies, so shall we pray unto thee, and that instantly, and praise thy N••me, in the Evening, in the Morning, and in the noon day, dedicating to thy honour and worship, the beginning, the growth, and the decrease of our life, even all our days, because thou hast not suffered us to fall for ever, but hast brought us from the pit of destruction, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.