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 answer me: I am restless in my complaint, and moan,

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 anger they persecute 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! 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, I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah

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

8 I would haste me to a shelter From the stormy wind 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 tongue; 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: Iniquity also and mischief 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: Oppression and guile depart not from its 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 companion, and my familiar friend.

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

14 W e took sweet counsel together; We walked in the house of God with the throng.

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

15 L et death come suddenly upon them, Let them go down alive into Sheol; For wickedness is in their dwelling, in the midst of 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 Jehovah will save me.

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

17 E vening, and morning, and at noonday, will I complain, and moan; And he will 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 redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me; For they were many that strove 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 will hear, and answer them, Even he that abideth of old, Selah The men who have no changes, And who 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 were at peace with him: He hath profaned his covenant.

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

21 H is mouth was smooth as butter, But his heart was war: 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 Jehovah, and he will sustain thee: He will 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, 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.

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.