1 T o the Overseer with stringed instruments. -- An instruction, by David. Give ear, O God, my prayer, And hide not from my supplication.

Give ear to my prayer, O God, And do not hide Yourself from my supplication.

2 A ttend to me, and answer me, I mourn in my meditation, and make a noise,

Attend to me, and hear me; I am restless in my complaint, and moan noisily,

3 B ecause of the voice of an enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked, For they cause sorrow to move against me, And in anger they hate me.

Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked; For they bring down trouble upon me, And in wrath they hate me.

4 M y heart is pained within me, And terrors of death have fallen on me.

My heart is severely pained within me, And the terrors of death have fallen upon me.

5 F ear and trembling come in to me, And horror doth cover me.

Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, And horror has overwhelmed me.

6 A nd I say, `Who doth give to me a pinion as a dove? I fly away and rest,

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

7 L o, I move far off, I lodge in a wilderness. Selah.

Indeed, I would wander far off, And remain in the wilderness. Selah

8 I hasten escape for myself, From a rushing wind, from a whirlwind.

I would hasten my escape From the windy storm and tempest.”

9 S wallow up, O Lord, divide their tongue, For I saw violence and strife in a city.

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

10 B y day and by night they go round it, on its walls. Both iniquity and perverseness in its midst,

Day and night they go around it on its walls; Iniquity and trouble are also in the midst of it.

11 M ischiefs in its midst. Fraud and deceit depart not from its street.

Destruction is in its midst; Oppression and deceit do not depart from its streets.

12 F or an enemy reproacheth me not, or I bear, He who is hating me Hath not magnified himself against me, Or I hide from him.

For it is not an enemy who reproaches me; Then I could bear it. Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me; Then I could hide from him.

13 B ut thou, a man -- as mine equal, My familiar friend, and mine acquaintance.

But it was you, a man my equal, My companion and my acquaintance.

14 W hen together we sweeten counsel, Into the house of God we walk in company.

We took sweet counsel together, And walked to the house of God in the throng.

15 D esolations upon them, They go down Sheol -- alive, For wickedness in their dwelling, in their midst.

Let death seize them; Let them go down alive into hell, For wickedness is in their dwellings and among them.

16 I -- to God I call, and Jehovah saveth me.

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

17 E vening, and morning, and noon, I meditate, and make a noise, and He heareth my voice,

Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice.

18 H e hath ransomed in peace my soul From him who is near to me, For with the multitude they were with me.

He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, For there were many against me.

19 G od doth hear and afflict them, And He sitteth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, and fear not God,

God will hear, and afflict them, Even He who abides from of old. Selah Because they do not change, Therefore they do not fear God.

20 H e hath sent forth his hands against his well-wishers, He hath polluted his covenant.

He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him; He has broken his covenant.

21 S weeter than honey hath been his mouth, And his heart war! Softer have been his words than oil, And they drawn.

The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, But war was in his heart; His words were softer than oil, Yet they were drawn swords.

22 C ast on Jehovah that which He hath given thee, And He doth sustain thee, He doth not suffer for ever the moving of the righteous.

Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

23 A nd Thou, O God, dost bring them down To a pit of destruction, Men of blood and deceit reach not to half their days, And I -- I do trust in Thee!

But You, O God, shall bring them down to the pit of destruction; Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; But I will trust in You.