1 | Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication! |
2 | Attend to me, and answer me; I am overcome by my trouble. I am distraught |
3 | by the noise of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they bring trouble upon me, and in anger they cherish enmity against me. |
4 | My heart is in anguish within me, the terrors of death have fallen upon me. |
5 | Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me. |
6 | And I say, "O that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest; |
7 | yea, I would wander afar, I would lodge in the wilderness, [Selah] |
8 | I would haste to find me a shelter from the raging wind and tempest." |
9 | Destroy their plans, O Lord, confuse their tongues; for I see violence and strife in the city. |
10 | Day and night they go around it on its walls; and mischief and trouble are within it, |
11 | ruin is in its midst; oppression and fraud do not depart from its market place. |
12 | It is not an enemy who taunts me -- then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me -- then I could hide from him. |
13 | But it is you, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. |
14 | We used to hold sweet converse together; within God's house we walked in fellowship. |
15 | Let death come upon them; let them go down to Sheol alive; let them go away in terror into their graves. |
16 | But I call upon God; and the LORD will save me. |
17 | Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he will hear my voice. |
18 | He will deliver my soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against me. |
19 | God will give ear, and humble them, he who is enthroned from of old; because they keep no law, and do not fear God. [Selah] |
20 | My companion stretched out his hand against his friends, he violated his covenant. |
21 | His speech was smoother than butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords. |
22 | Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. |
23 | But thou, O God, wilt cast them down into the lowest pit; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in thee. |