0For the director, with stringed instruments. A maskil of David.
1Give ear, God, to my prayer, and do not hide yourself from my plea for mercy.
2Attend to me and answer me; I am restless in my complaint, and I moan aloud,
3because of the voice of the enemy, because of the pressure of the wicked; for they bring down trouble upon me, and in anger they harass me.
4My heart writhes within me, and the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
5Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me.
6And I said, “Who will give me wings like a dove? I would fly away and find rest.
7See, I would flee far away; I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah.
8I would hurry to my place of escape from the raging wind, from the storm.”
9Confuse them, Lord; divide their tongues, for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
10Day and night they go around it upon its walls; trouble and mischief are within it.
11Ruin is within it; oppression and deceit do not depart from its marketplace.
12For it is not an enemy who reproaches me—that I could bear; it is not one who hates me who has magnified himself against me—from him I could hide.
13But it is you, a man of my own rank, my companion and my close friend.
14We who together shared sweet counsel; in the house of God we walked in the throng.
15Let death take them by surprise; let them go down alive to Sheol, for evil is in their dwelling, within them.
16As for me, I will call out to God, and Yahweh will save me.
17Evening and morning and noon I complain and moan, and he hears my voice.
18He has redeemed my life in peace from the battle against me, for many were with me.
19God will hear and humble them—he who is enthroned from of old, Selah—those who have no changes and do not fear God.
20He has stretched out his hands against those at peace with him; he has violated his covenant.
21Smoother than butter were the words of his mouth, but his heart was war; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.
22Cast your burden upon Yahweh, and he will sustain you; he will never allow the righteous to be shaken.
23But you, God, will bring them down to the pit of destruction; men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I—I will trust in you.
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