Psalm 55
1 Hear my prayer, O God; *
do not hide yourself from my petition.
2 Listen to me and answer me; *
I have no peace, because of my cares.
3 I am shaken by the noise of the enemy *
and by the pressure of the wicked;
4 For they have cast an evil spell upon me *
and are set against me in fury.
5 My heart quakes within me, *
and the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
6 Fear and trembling have come over me, *
and horror overwhelms me.
7 And I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! *
I would fly away and be at rest.
8 I would flee to a far-off place *
and make my lodging in the wilderness.
9 I would hasten to escape *
from the stormy wind and tempest.”
10 Swallow them up, O Lord;
confound their speech; *
for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
11 Day and night the watchmen make their rounds
upon her walls, *
but trouble and misery are in the midst of her.
12 There is corruption at her heart; *
her streets are never free of oppression and deceit.
13 For had it been an adversary who taunted me,
then I could have borne it; *
or had it been an enemy who vaunted himself against me,
then I could have hidden from him.
14 But it was you, a man after my own heart, *
my companion, my own familiar friend.
15 We took sweet counsel together, *
and walked with the throng in the house of God.
16 Let death come upon them suddenly;
let them go down alive to the grave; *
for wickedness is in their dwellings, in their very midst.
17 But I will call upon God, *
and the Lord will deliver me.
18 In the evening, in the morning, and at noonday,
I will complain and lament, *
and he will hear my voice.
19 He will bring me safely back from the battle
waged against me; *
for there are many who fight me.
20 God, who is enthroned of old, will hear me and
bring them down; *
they never change; they do not fear God.
21 My companion stretched forth his hand against his comrade; *
he has broken his covenant.
22 His speech is softer than butter, *
but war is in his heart.
23 His words are smoother than oil, *
but they are drawn swords.
24 Cast your burden upon the Lord,
and he will sustain you; *
he will never let the righteous stumble.
25 For you will bring the bloodthirsty and deceitful *
down to the pit of destruction, O God.
26 They shall not live out half their days, *
but I will put my trust in you.
A Prayer for the Unemployed
Heavenly Father, we remember before you those who suffer want and anxiety from lack of work. Guide the people of this land so to use our public and private wealth that all may find suitable and fulfilling employment, and receive just payment for their labor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Image: Death(1845–60) ,After Alexandre-Gabriel Decamps
The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Open Access Collection:
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/395190?
