| 1 | For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. Maschil of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God; And hide not thyself from my supplication. |
| 2 | Attend unto me, and answer me: I am restless in my complaint, and moan, |
| 3 | Because 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 | My heart is sore pained within me: And the terrors of death are fallen upon me. |
| 5 | Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, And horror hath overwhelmed me. |
| 6 | And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then would I fly away, and be at rest. |
| 7 | Lo, then would I wander far off, I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah |
| 8 | I would haste me to a shelter From the stormy wind and tempest. |
| 9 | Destroy, O Lord, [and] divide their tongue; For I have seen violence and strife in the city. |
| 10 | Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: Iniquity also and mischief are in the midst of it. |
| 11 | Wickedness is in the midst thereof: Oppression and guile depart not from its streets. |
| 12 | For 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: |
| 13 | But it was thou, a man mine equal, My companion, and my familiar friend. |
| 14 | We took sweet counsel together; We walked in the house of God with the throng. |
| 15 | Let death come suddenly upon them, Let them go down alive into Sheol; For wickedness is in their dwelling, in the midst of them. |
| 16 | As for me, I will call upon God; And Jehovah will save me. |
| 17 | Evening, and morning, and at noonday, will I complain, and moan; And he will hear my voice. |
| 18 | He hath redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me; For they were many [that strove] with me. |
| 19 | God will hear, and answer them, Even he that abideth of old, Selah [The men] who have no changes, And who fear not God. |
| 20 | He hath put forth his hands against such as were at peace with him: He hath profaned his covenant. |
| 21 | His mouth was smooth as butter, But his heart was war: His words were softer than oil, Yet were they drawn swords. |
| 22 | Cast thy burden upon Jehovah, and he will sustain thee: He will never suffer the righteous to be moved. |
| 23 | But 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. |