1 G ive ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.

Listen to my prayer, O God, and hide not Yourself from my supplication!

2 A ttend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;

Attend to me and answer me; I am restless and distraught in my complaint and must moan

3 b ecause of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.

at the noise of the enemy, because of the oppression and threats of the wicked; for they would cast trouble upon me, and in wrath they persecute me.

4 M y heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.

My heart is grievously pained within me, and the terrors of death have fallen upon me.

5 F earfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.

Fear and trembling have come upon me; horror and fright have overwhelmed me.

6 A nd I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.

And I say, Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.

7 L o, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.

Yes, I would wander far away, I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah!

8 I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.

I would hasten to escape and to find a shelter from the stormy wind and tempest.

9 D estroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

Destroy, O Lord, confuse their tongues, for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

10 D ay and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.

Day and night they go about on its walls; iniquity and mischief are in its midst.

11 W ickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.

Violence and ruin are within it; fraud and guile do not depart from its streets and marketplaces.

12 F or 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:

For it is not an enemy who reproaches and taunts me—then I might bear it; nor is it one who has hated me who insolently vaunts himself against me—then I might hide from him.

13 b ut it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.

But it was you, a man my equal, my companion and my familiar friend.

14 W e took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.

We had sweet fellowship together and used to walk to the house of God in company.

15 L et death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.

Let desolations and death come suddenly upon them; let them go down alive to Sheol (the place of the dead), for evils are in their habitations, in their hearts, and their inmost part.

16 A s for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me.

As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord will save me.

17 E vening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

Evening and morning and at noon will I utter my complaint and moan and sigh, and He will hear my voice.

18 H e hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.

He has redeemed my life in peace from the battle that was against me, for they were many who strove with me.

19 G od shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.

God will hear and humble them, even He Who abides of old— Selah!—because in them there has been no change, and they do not fear, revere, and worship God.

20 H e hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.

has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him; he has broken and profaned his agreement.

21 T he words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.

The words of his mouth were smoother than cream or butter, but war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.

22 C ast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Cast your burden on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be moved (made to slip, fall, or fail).

23 B ut thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.

But You, O God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in, lean on, and confidently rely on You.