1TO THE OVERSEER. WITH STRINGED INSTRUMENTS. AN INSTRUCTION OF DAVID. Give ear, O God, [to] my prayer, || And do not hide from my supplication.

2Attend to me, and answer me, || I mourn in my meditation, and make a noise,

3Because of the voice of an enemy, || Because of the oppression of the wicked, || For they cause sorrow to move against me, || And in anger they hate me.

4My heart is pained within me, || And terrors of death have fallen on me.

5Fear and trembling come to me, || And horror covers me.

6And I say, “Who gives to me a pinion as a dove?” I fly away and rest,

7Behold, I move far off, || I lodge in a wilderness. Selah.

8I hurry escape for myself, || From a rushing wind, from a whirlwind.

9Swallow up, O Lord, divide their tongue, || For I saw violence and strife in a city.

10By day and by night they go around it, on its walls. Both iniquity and perverseness [are] in its midst,

11Mischiefs [are] in its midst. Fraud and deceit do not depart from its street.

12For an enemy does not reproach me, or I bear [it], || He who is hating me || Has not magnified himself against me, || Or I hide from him.

13But you, a man—as my equal, || My familiar friend, and my acquaintance.

14When together we sweeten counsel, || We walk into the house of God in company.

15Desolations [are] on them, || They go down [to] Sheol—alive, || For wickedness [is] in their dwelling, in their midst.

16I call to God, and YHWH saves me.

17Evening, and morning, and noon, || I meditate, and make a noise, and He hears my voice,

18He has ransomed my soul in peace || From him who is near to me, || For with the multitude they were with me.

19God hears and afflicts them, || And He sits of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, and do not fear God,

20He has sent forth his hands against his well-wishers, || He has defiled his covenant.

21His mouth has been sweeter than honey, || And his heart [is] war! His words have been softer than oil, || And they [are] drawn [swords].

22Cast on YHWH that which He has given you, || And He sustains you, || He does not permit the moving of the righteous forever.

23And You, O God, bring them down || To a pit of destruction, || Men of blood and deceit do not reach to half their days, || And I trust in You!