Bookmark and Share

Psalm 54 (55)

Against a faithless friend
“Jesus began to feel a sudden fear and great distress” (Mk 14, 33).

O God, listen to my prayer,
  do not hide from my pleading,
attend to me and reply;
  with my cares, I cannot rest.

I tremble at the shouts of the foe,
  at the cries of the wicked;
for they bring down evil upon me.
  They assail me with fury.

My heart is stricken within me,
  death’s terror is on me,
trembling and fear fall upon me
  and horror overwhelms me.

O that I had wings like a dove
  to fly away and be at rest.
So I would escape far away
  and take refuge in the desert.

I would hasten to find a shelter
  from the raging wind,
from the destructive storm, O Lord,
  and from their plotting tongues.

For I can see nothing but violence
  and strife in the city.
Night and day they patrol
  high on the city walls.

It is full of wickedness and evil;
  it is full of sin.
Its streets are never free
  from tyranny and deceit.

If this had been done by an enemy
  I could bear his taunts.
If a rival had risen against me,
  I could hide from him.

But it is you, my own companion,
  my intimate friend!
How close was the friendship between us.
  We walked together in harmony
  in the house of God.

As for me, I will cry to God
  and the Lord will save me.
Evening, morning and at noon
  I will cry and lament.

He will deliver my soul in peace
  in the attack against me;
for those who fight me are many,
  but he hears my voice.

God will hear and will humble them,
  the eternal judge:
for they will not amend their ways.
  They have no fear of God.

The traitor has turned against his friends;
  he has broken his word.
His speech is softer than butter,
  but war is in his heart.
His words are smoother than oil,
  but they are naked swords.

Entrust your cares to the Lord
  and he will support you.
He will never allow
  the just man to stumble.

But you, O God, will bring them down
  to the pit of death.
Deceitful and bloodthirsty men
  shall not live half their days.
O Lord, I will trust in you.