1 Listen, O God, to my prayer, and do not hide from my plea.
2 Pay heed to me and answer me; I wander about in my complaint and groan,
3 at the noise of the enemy, at the pressure of the wicked; for they drop trouble on me, and in wrath they nurse hatred against me.
4 My heart is in anguish within me, and the terrors of death have fallen on me.
5 Fear and trembling have come over me, and shuddering covers me.
6 And I said, "Who will give me wings like the dove? I would fly away and settle down.
7 Yes, I would flee far off; I would spend the night in the desert. Selah.
8 I would hasten my escape from the rushing wind, from the tempest."
9 Confound them, O Lord, split their tongues, for I see violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they make their rounds on its walls, and iniquity and mischief are within it.
11 Ruin is within it; oppression and fraud never leave its marketplace.
12 For it is not an enemy who reproaches me; that I could endure. It is not one who hates me who lifts himself up against me; from him I could hide.
13 But it is you, a man of my own rank, my companion, my close friend.
14 Together we enjoyed sweet fellowship; into the house of God we walked among the crowd.
15 May death take them by surprise; may they go down to Sheol alive, for wickedness is in their dwellings, among them.
16 But I will call upon God, and the LORD will save me.
17 Evening, morning and noon I pour out my complaint and groan, and he hears my voice.
18 He has ransomed my soul in safety from the battle waged against me, for many were in conflict with me.
19 God will hear and bring them low, he who has been enthroned from of old, Selah, those who never change and do not fear God.
20 He has put out his hand against those who were at peace with him; he has broken his covenant.
21 His speech was smoother than cream, but his heart was set on war; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.
22 Cast your burden upon the LORD, and he will hold you up; never will he allow the righteous to be shaken.
23 And you, O God, will cast them down into the pit of ruin; bloodthirsty and treacherous men will not reach half their days. But as for me, I will trust in you.