Exaudi Deus. Ps.55.I.H.

The first part

The second part

O God give ear and do apply,
to hear me when I pray:
And when to thee I call and cry,
hide not thy face away.

2 Take heed to me, grant my request,
and answer me again:
With ‘plaints I pray, full sore oppressed,
great grief doth me constrain.

3 Because my foes with threats and cries,
oppress me through despite:
And so the wicked sort likewise,
to vex me have delight.

4 For they in counsel do conspire,
to charge me with some ill:
So with their hasty wrath and ire,
they do pursue me still.

5 My heart doth faint for want of breath,
it panteth in my breast:
The terrors and the dread of Death,
doth work me much unrest.

6 Such dreadful fear on me doth fall,
that I therewith do quake:
Such horror ‘whelmeth me withal,
that I no shift can make.

7 But I do say, who will give me
the swift and pleasant wings
Of some fair dove that I may flee,
and rest me from these things.

8 Lee then I would go far away,
to fly I would not cease:
And I would hide myself and stay
in some great wilderness.

9 I would be gone in all the haste,
and not abide behind:
That I were quite over-past
these blasts of boisterous wind,

10 Divide them Lord, and from them pull:
their devilish double tongue:
For I have spied their City full,
of rapine, strife and wrong.

11 Which things both night and day
throughout,
did close her as a wall.
In midst of her is mischief stout,
and sorrow eke withal.

12 Her privy parts are wicked plain,
her deeds are much too vile:
And in her streets there doth remain,
all crafty fraud and guile.

13 If that my foes did seek my shame,
I might it well abide:
From open enemies’ cheek and blame,
somewhere I could me hide:

14 But thou it was my fellow dear,
which friendship did pretend:
And didst my secret counsel hear,
as my familiar friend.

15 With whom I had delight to talk,
in secret and abroad:
And we together oft did walk,
within the house of God.

16 Let death in haste upon them fall,
and send them quick to hell:
For mischief reigneth in their hall,
and parlor where they dwell.

17 But I unto my God do cry,
to him for help I flee:
The Lord doth hear me by and by,
and he doth succor me.

18 At morning, noon, and evening tide:
unto the Lord I pray:
When I so instantly have cried,
he doth not say me nay.

19 To peace he shall restore me yet,
though wars be near at hand:
Although the number be full great,
that would against me stand.

20 The Lord that first and last doth reign,
both now and evermore,
Will hear when I to him complain,
and punish them full score.

21 For sure there is no hope that they
to turn will once accord:
For why? they will not God obey,
nor do not fear the Lord.

22 Upon their friends they laid their hands,
which were in covenant knit:
Of friendship to neglect the bands,
they pass or care no whit.

23 While they have war within their hearts,
as butter are their words:Although their words were smooth as oil,
they cut as sharp as swords.

24 Cast thou thy care upon the Lord,
and he shall nourish thee:
For in no wise will he accord
the just in thrall to see.

25 But God shall cast them deep in pit,
that thirst for blood always:
He will no guileful man permit,
to live out half his days.

26 Though such be quite destroyed and gone,
in thee O Lord, I trust:
I shall depend thy grace upon,
with all my heart and lust.