Psalm 55

A prayer of David in danger and distress.

Does this psalm differ from what you were expecting? Don't be confused. There are two systems for arranging the psalms: the Septuagint and the Masoretic. We use the Septuagint system here. In the Masoretic system, which is used in most modern Bible translations, this psalm is called Psalm 56, and the previous psalm is known as Psalm 55.

English (Douay-Rheims)

1 Unto the end, for a people that is removed at a distance form the sanctuary: for David, for an inscription of a title (or pillar) when the Philistines held him in Geth.

2 Have mercy on me, O God, for man hath trodden me under foot; all the day long he hath afflicted me fighting against me.
3 My enemies have trodden on me all the day long; for they are many that make war against me.
4 From the height of the day I shall fear: but I will trust in thee. The height of the day... That is, even at noonday, when the sun is the highest, I am still in danger.
5 In God I will praise my words, in God I have put my trust: I will not fear what flesh can do against me. My words... The words or promises God has made in my favour.
6 All the day long they detested my words: all their thoughts were against me unto evil.
7 They will dwell and hide themselves: they will watch my heel. As they have waited for my soul,
8 For nothing shalt thou save them: in thy anger thou shalt break the people in pieces. O God, For nothing shalt thou save them... That is, since they lie in wait to ruin my soul, thou shalt for no consideration favour or assist them, but execute thy justice upon them.
9 I have declared to thee my life: thou hast set me tears in thy sight, As also in thy promise.
10 Then shall my enemies be turned back. In what day soever I shall call upon thee, behold I know thou art my God.
11 In God will I praise the word, in the Lord will I praise his speech. In God have I hoped, I will not fear what man can do to me.
12 In me, O God, are vows to thee, which I will pay, praises to thee:
13 Because thou hast delivered my soul from death, my feet from falling: that I may please in the sight of God, in the light of the living.

Old Testament first published 1609 by the English College at Douay
New Testament first published 1582 by the English College at Rheims
Revised and Annotated 1749 by Bishop Richard Challoner
Imprimatur. +James Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore, September 1, 1899

Latin (Clementine Vulgate)

1 In finem, pro populo qui a sanctis longe factus est. David in tituli inscriptionem, cum tenuerunt eum Allophyli in Geth.

2 Miserere mei, Deus, quoniam conculcavit me homo;
tota die impugnans, tribulavit me.
3 Conculcaverunt me inimici mei tota die,
quoniam multi bellantes adversum me.
4 Ab altitudine diei timebo:
ego vero in te sperabo.
5 In Deo laudabo sermones meos;
in Deo speravi:
non timebo quid faciat mihi caro.
6 Tota die verba mea execrabantur;
adversum me omnes cogitationes eorum in malum.
7 Inhabitabunt, et abscondent;
ipsi calcaneum meum observabunt.
Sicut sustinuerunt animam meam,
8 pro nihilo salvos facies illos;
in ira populos confringes.
9 Deus, vitam meam annuntiavi tibi;
posuisti lacrimas meas in conspectu tuo,
sicut et in promissione tua:
10 tunc convertentur inimici mei retrorsum.
In quacumque die invocavero te,
ecce cognovi quoniam Deus meus es.
11 In Deo laudabo verbum;
in Domino laudabo sermonem.
In Deo speravi:
non timebo quid faciat mihi homo.
12 In me sunt, Deus, vota tua,
quæ reddam, laudationes tibi:
13 quoniam eripuisti animam meam de morte,
et pedes meos de lapsu,
ut placeam coram Deo in lumine viventium.

Transcribed as part of the Clementine Vulgate Project
Please notify the original transcriber (little.mouth@soon.com) of any errors in this Latin edition