1“For the leader of the music. To be sung on stringed instruments. A psalm of David.” Give ear to my prayer, O God! Hide not thyself from my supplication!

2Attend unto me, and hear me! I wander about mourning and wailing,

3On account of the clamors of the enemy, On account of the violence of the wicked. For they bring evil upon me, And in wrath set themselves against me.

4My heart trembleth in my bosom, And the terrors of death have fallen upon me.

5Fear and trembling have seized me, And horror hath overwhelmed me.

6Then I say, O that I had wings like a dove! For then would I fly away, and be at rest.

7Behold, I would wander far away, And take up my abode in a wilderness. [[Pause.]]

8I would hasten away to a shelter From the rushing wind and tempest.

9Confound, O Lord! divide their counsels! For I behold violence and strife in the city.

10Day and night do these go about its walls; In the midst of it are iniquity and mischief.

11Wickedness is in the midst of it; Oppression and fraud depart not from its streets.

12It was not an enemy that reviled me, Then I could have borne it; Nor one that hated me, who rose up against me; From him I could have hid myself.

13But it was thou, a man my equal, My friend, and my acquaintance.

14We held sweet converse together, And walked to the house of God in company.

15May sudden death seize upon them! May they go down to the underworld alive! For wickedness is in their dwellings, in the midst of them.

16As for me, I will call upon God, And Jehovah will save me.

17At evening, at morn, and at noon I mourn and sigh, And he will hear my voice.

18He will deliver me in peace from my conflict; For many have risen up against me.

19God will hear me, and bring them down,—He that hath been judge of old. [[Pause.]] Because they have no changes, Therefore they fear not God.

20They lift up their hands against their friend, And break their covenant with him.

21Their speech was softer than butter, But war was in their heart; Their words were smoother than oil, Yet were they drawn swords.

22“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he will sustain thee; He will never suffer the righteous to fall!”

23Yea, thou, O God! wilt bring them down into the lowest pit! Bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in thee!