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

2 A ttend unto me, and answer me: I wander about in my plaint, and I moan aloud,

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.

4 M y heart is writhing within me, and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.

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

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

7 B ehold, I would flee afar off, I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah;

8 I would hasten my escape from the stormy wind, from the tempest.

9 S wallow up, Lord; divide their tongue: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

10 D ay and night they go about it upon the walls thereof; and iniquity and mischief are in the midst of it.

11 P erversities are in the midst thereof; and oppression and deceit depart not from its streets.

12 F or it is not an enemy that hath reproached me—then could I have borne it; neither is it he that hateth me that hath magnified against me—then would I have hidden myself from him;

13 B ut it was thou, a man mine equal, mine intimate, my familiar friend. …

14 W e who held sweet intercourse together. To the house of God we walked amid the throng.

15 L et death seize upon them, let them go down alive into Sheol. For wickedness is in their dwellings, in their midst.

16 A s for me, unto God will I call; and Jehovah will save me.

17 E vening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray and moan aloud; and he will hear my voice.

18 H e hath redeemed my soul in peace from the battle against me: for there were many about me.

19 G od will hear, and afflict them: he that is seated of old, (Selah) … because there is no change in them, and they fear not God.

20 H e hath put forth his hands against such as are at peace with him; he hath profaned his covenant.

21 S mooth were the milky of his mouth, but his heart was war; his words were softer than oil, yet are they drawn swords.

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

23 A nd thou, O God, wilt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days. But as for me, I will confide in thee.