1 L isten to my prayer, God. Don’t hide yourself from my supplication.

Listen to my prayer, O God. Do not hide Yourself from what I ask.

2 A ttend to me, and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and moan,

Hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I have no peace,

3 B ecause of the voice of the enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked. For they bring suffering on me. In anger they hold a grudge against me.

because of the voice of those who hate me and the power of the sinful. For they bring trouble upon me, and in anger they keep on having bad thoughts against me.

4 M y heart is severely pained within me. The terrors of death have fallen on me.

My heart is in pain within me. The fears of death have come upon me.

5 F earfulness and trembling have come on me. Horror has overwhelmed me.

I have begun shaking with fear. Fear has power over me.

6 I said, “Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then I would fly away, and be at rest.

And I say, “If only I had wings like a dove, I would fly away and be at rest.

7 B ehold, then I would wander far off. I would lodge in the wilderness.” Selah.

Yes, I would go far away. I would live in the desert.

8 “ I would hurry to a shelter from the stormy wind and storm.”

I would hurry to my safe place, away from the wild wind and storm.”

9 C onfuse them, Lord, and confound their language, for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

Mix them up, O Lord. Divide their tongues. For I have seen fighting and trouble in the city.

10 D ay and night they prowl around on its walls. Malice and abuse are also within her.

They go around on its walls day and night. Sin and wrong-doing are within it.

11 D estructive forces are within her. Threats and lies don’t depart from her streets.

Destroying powers are in the city. Trouble and lies never leave its streets.

12 F or it was not an enemy who insulted me, then I could have endured it. Neither was it he who hated me who raised himself up against me, then I would have hidden myself from him.

I would be able to take it if one who hates me were putting me to shame. I could hide from him. It is not one who hates me who has put himself up against me.

13 B ut it was you, a man like me, my companion, and my familiar friend.

But it is you, a man like myself, one who has gone with me, my close friend.

14 W e took sweet fellowship together. We walked in God’s house with company.

We shared together. And we walked with the people in the house of God.

15 L et death come suddenly on them. Let them go down alive into Sheol. For wickedness is among them, in their dwelling.

Let death take them by surprise. Let them go down alive to the grave. For sin is with them where they live.

16 A s for me, I will call on God. Yahweh will save me.

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

17 E vening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress. He will hear my voice.

I will cry out and complain in the evening and morning and noon, and He will hear my voice.

18 H e has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, although there are many who oppose me.

He will save my soul in peace from those who make war against me. For there are many who fight me.

19 G od, who is enthroned forever, will hear, and answer them. Selah. They never change, who don’t fear God.

God sits on His throne forever. And He will hear them and bring trouble upon them, because there has been no change in them. They do not fear God.

20 H e raises his hands against his friends. He has violated his covenant.

He goes against those who were at peace with him. He has broken his agreement.

21 H is mouth was smooth as butter, but his heart was war. His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.

What he says is smoother than butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are raised swords.

22 C ast your burden on Yahweh, and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved.

Give all your cares to the Lord and He will give you strength. He will never let those who are right with Him be shaken.

23 B ut you, God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction. Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days, but I will trust in you.

But You, O God, will bring the sinful down into the hole that destroys. Men who kill and lie will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You.