| | 1 | For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil of David. Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea; | |
| | 2 | hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught | |
| | 3 | at the voice of the enemy, at the stares of the wicked; for they bring down suffering upon me and revile me in their anger. | |
| | 4 | My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death assail me. | |
| | 5 | Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me. | |
| | 6 | I said, "Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest-- | |
| | 7 | I would flee far away and stay in the desert; Selah | |
| | 8 | I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm." | |
| | 9 | Confuse the wicked, O Lord, confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city. | |
| | 10 | Day and night they prowl about on its walls; malice and abuse are within it. | |
| | 11 | Destructive forces are at work in the city; threats and lies never leave its streets. | |
| | 12 | If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were raising himself against me, I could hide from him. | |
| | 13 | But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, | |
| | 14 | with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship as we walked with the throng at the house of God. | |
| | 15 | Let death take my enemies by surprise; let them go down alive to the grave, for evil finds lodging among them. | |
| | 16 | But I call to God, and the LORD saves me. | |
| | 17 | Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. | |
| | 18 | He ransoms me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me. | |
| | 19 | God, who is enthroned forever, will hear them and afflict them--Selah men who never change their ways and have no fear of God. | |
| | 20 | My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant. | |
| | 21 | His speech is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords. | |
| | 22 | Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. | |
| | 23 | But you, O God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of corruption; bloodthirsty and deceitful men will not live out half their days. But as for me, I trust in you. | |
