1 Listen to my prayer, O God,
do not ignore my plea; |
2 hear me and answer me.
My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught |
3 at the voice of the enemy,
at the stares of the wicked;
for they bring down suffering upon me
and revile me in their anger. |
4 My heart is in anguish within me;
the terrors of death assail me. |
5 Fear and trembling have beset me;
horror has overwhelmed me. |
6 I said, "Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest- |
7 I would flee far away
and stay in the desert;
Selah |
8 I would hurry to my place of shelter,
far from the tempest and storm." |
9 Confuse the wicked, O Lord, confound their speech,
for I see violence and strife in the city. |
10 Day and night they prowl about on its walls;
malice and abuse are within it. |
11 Destructive forces are at work in the city;
threats and lies never leave its streets. |
12 If an enemy were insulting me,
I could endure it;
if a foe were raising himself against me,
I could hide from him. |
13 But it is you, a man like myself,
my companion, my close friend, |
14 with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship
as we walked with the throng at the house of God. |
15 Let death take my enemies by surprise;
let them go down alive to the grave,1 55:15 Hebrew Sheol
for evil finds lodging among them. |
16 But I call to God,
and the LORD saves me. |
17 Evening, morning and noon
I cry out in distress,
and he hears my voice. |
18 He ransoms me unharmed
from the battle waged against me,
even though many oppose me. |
19 God, who is enthroned forever,
will hear them and afflict them-
Selah
men who never change their ways
and have no fear of God. |
20 My companion attacks his friends;
he violates his covenant. |
21 His speech is smooth as butter,
yet war is in his heart;
his words are more soothing than oil,
yet they are drawn swords. |
22 Cast your cares on the LORD
and he will sustain you;
he will never let the righteous fall. |
23 But you, O God, will bring down the wicked
into the pit of corruption;
bloodthirsty and deceitful men
will not live out half their days. |
