---
title: "Commentary on the Psalms, Volume 5"
author: "John Calvin"
translator: "James Anderson"
languages: [en]
shelf: "Commentaries"
section: 76 of 159
url: https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentary-on-the-psalms-volume-5/76/
cite: "John Calvin, tr. James Anderson, Commentary on the Psalms, Volume 5, section 76. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentary-on-the-psalms-volume-5/76/"
---

# Commentary on the Psalms, Volume 5

*John Calvin, tr. James Anderson*

Calvin on the Psalms, volume 5 of 5.

## 76. Psalm 55

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentary-on-the-psalms-volume-5/76/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentary-on-the-psalms-volume-5/76/#p-N

[¶0] To the Chief Musician on Neginoth. A lesson of instruction of David

[¶1] 1 Give ear, O God! to my prayer, And hide not thyself from my supplication.

[¶2] 2 Attend to me, and answer me: I will wail in my address, and will become tumultuous.

[¶3] 3 By reason of the voice of the enemy — Under the oppression of the ungodly; For they cast upon me iniquity, In wrath they set themselves against me.

[¶4] 4 My heart trembleth within me, And the terrors of death have fallen upon me.

[¶5] 5 Fear and trembling are come upon me, And horror hath overwhelmed me.

[¶6] 6 And I said, “Who will give me wings like a dove? “I will fly away and be at rest.

[¶7] 7 “Lo! I will flee far away, “I will repose in the desert. Selah.

[¶8] 8 “I will hasten my escape from the tempestuous whirlwind.”

[¶9] 9 Destroy, O Lord! divide their tongue: For I have seen oppression and strife in the city.

[¶10] 10 By day and night they go round it upon the walls thereof: And labor and sorrow are in the midst of it.

[¶11] 11 Wickedness is in the midst of it; And fraud and deceit depart not from the streets thereof.

[¶12] 12 Truly it was not an enemy who reproached me, For [then] I could have borne [it:] It was not an adversary who magnified himself against me, For [then] I would have hid himself from him.

[¶13] 13 But thou, a man according to my own rank, My guide, and my familiar friend.

[¶14] 14 We sweetly exchanged our secret thoughts; Into the house of God we walked in company.

[¶15] 15 Let death seize upon them, Let them descend into the grave alive; For wickedness is I, their dwelling, in the midst of them.

[¶16] 16 As for me, to God; will I cry, And Jehovah shall save me.

[¶17] 17 In the evening, and the morning, and at noonday Will I pray, and cry aloud; And he shall hear my voice.

[¶18] 18 He hath redeemed into peace my soul From the battle which was against me: For many were with me.

[¶19] 19 Hear shall God, and shall afflict them, Even he who sitteth from ancient time. Selah. Because they have no changes, And fear not God.

[¶20] 20 He hath set his hands against those who were at peace with him: He hath broken his covenant.

[¶21] 21 Smoother than butter are the words of his mouth, And in his heart is war; Softer are his words than oil, And [yet] they are darts.

[¶22] 22 Cast upon Jehovah whatever blessings thou askest from him, And he shall feed thee; He shall not suffer for ever the righteous man to stagger.

[¶23] 23 Thou, O God! shalt cast them into the pit of corruption: The men of blood and deceit shall not live out half their days: But as for me, I will hope in thee.