A psalm written by David for the choir director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments

1God, listen to my prayer, and do not turn away from me while I am pleading with you.

2Listen to me, and answer me, because I am overwhelmed by all my troubles.

3My enemies cause me to be terrified; wicked people oppress me.
They cause me to have great troubles;
they are angry with me, and they hate me.

4I am terrified, and I am very much afraid that I will die.

5I am very fearful and I tremble/shake, and I am completely terrified.

6I said, “I wish that I had wings like a dove!
If I had wings, I would fly away and find a place to rest.

7I would fly far away and live in the desert. (Think about that!)

8I would quickly find a shelter from my enemies who are like [MET] a strong wind and rainstorm.”

9Lord, confuse my enemies, and cause their plans to fail, because I see them acting violently and causing strife in the city of Jerusalem.

10During each day and night they march around on top of its walls, committing crimes and causing trouble.

11They destroy things everywhere. They oppress and defraud people in the ◄marketplaces/public squares►.

12If it were an enemy who was making fun of me, I could endure it. If it were someone who hates me, who despises me, I could hide from him.

13But it is someone who is just like me, my companion, someone who was my friend who is doing this to me.

14We previously had many good talks together; we walked around together in God’s temple.

15I desire/hope that my enemies will die suddenly; while they are still young, cause them to go down to the place where the dead people are.
They they think evil things.

16But I will ask Yahweh, my God, to help me, and he will save me.

17Each morning and each noontime and each evening I tell him what I am concerned about, and I moan, and he hears my voice.

18I have very many enemies, but he will rescue me and bring me back safely from the battles that I fight.

19God is the one who has ruled everything forever, and he will listen to me. He will cause my enemies to be defeated and disgraced, because they do not change their evil behavior
and they do not revere God. (Think about that!)

20My companion, whom I mentioned previously, betrayed his friends and broke the agreement that he made with them.

21What he said was easy to listen to, like butter is easy to swallow [MET], but in his inner being he hated people; his words were soothing like olive oil, but they hurt people like sharp swords do [MET].

22Put your troubles in Yahweh’s hands, and he will take care of you; he will never allow righteous people to experience disasters.

23God, you will cause murderers [MTY] and liars to die before they have lived half as long as they expect to live; but as for me, I will trust in you.