[1] Give ear to my prayer, O God; And hide not thyself from my supplication.
[2] Attend unto me, and answer me: I am restless in my complaint, and moan,
[3] Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked; For they cast iniquity upon me, And in anger they persecute me.
[4] My heart is sore pained within me: And the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
[5] Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, And horror hath overwhelmed me.
[6] And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then would I fly away, and be at rest.
[7] Lo, then would I wander far off, I would lodge in the wilderness. [Selah
[8] I would haste me to a shelter From the stormy wind and tempest.
[9] Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongue; For I have seen violence and strife in the city.
[10] Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: Iniquity also and mischief are in the midst of it.
[11] Wickedness is in the midst thereof: Oppression and guile depart not from its streets.
[12] For it was not an enemy that reproached me; Then I could have borne it: Neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; Then I would have hid myself from him:
[13] But it was thou, a man mine equal, My companion, and my familiar friend.
[14] We took sweet counsel together; We walked in the house of God with the throng.
[15] Let death come suddenly upon them, Let them go down alive into Sheol; For wickedness is in their dwelling, in the midst of them.
[16] As for me, I will call upon God; And Jehovah will save me.
[17] Evening, and morning, and at noonday, will I complain, and moan; And he will hear my voice.
[18] He hath redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me; For they were many that strove with me.
[19] God will hear, and answer them, Even he that abideth of old, [Selah The menwho have no changes, And who fear not God.
[20] He hath put forth his hands against such as were at peace with him: He hath profaned his covenant.
[21] His mouth was smooth as butter, But his heart was war: His words were softer than oil, Yet were they drawn swords.
[22] Cast thy burden upon Jehovah, and he will sustain thee: He will never suffer the righteous to be moved.
[23] But thou, O God, wilt bring them down into the pit of destruction: Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; But I will trust in thee.
