Psalm 55 (Version 1)

O God, my refuge, hear my cries,

Behold my flowing tears,

For earth and hell my hurt devise,

And triumph in my fears.

Their rage is levell'd at my life,

My soul with guilt they load,

And fill my thoughts with inward strife

To shake my hope in God.

With inward pain my heart-strings sound,

I groan with every breath;

Horror and fear beset me round

Amongst the shades of death,

O were I like a feather'd dove,

And innocence had wings,

I'd fly, and make a long remove,

From all these restless things.

Let me to some wild desert go,

And find a peaceful home,

Where storms of malice never blow,

Temptations never come.

Vain hopes, and vain inventions all

To 'scape the rage of hell!

The mighty God on whom I call

Can save me here as well.

By morning light I'll seek his face,

At noon repeat my cry,

The night shall hear me ask his grace,

Nor will he long deny.

God shall preserve my soul from fear,

Or shield me when afraid;

Ten thousand angels must appear

If he command their aid.

I cast my burdens on the Lord,

The Lord sustains them all;

My courage rests upon his word

That saints shall never fall.

My highest hopes shall not be vain,

My lips shall spread his praise;

While cruel and deceitful men

Scarce live out half their days.