^1. GIVE ear to my prayer, O God; And do not hide Yourself from my supplication.

^2. Give heed to me and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and [1] am surely distracted,

^3. Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the pressure of the wicked; For they bring down [2] trouble upon me And in anger they bear a grudge against me.

^4. My heart is in anguish within me, And the terrors of death have fallen upon me.

^5. Fear and trembling come upon me, And [3] horror has overwhelmed me.

^6. I said, «Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and [4] be at rest.

^7. «Behold, I would wander far away, I would lodge in the wilderness.

^8. «I would hasten to my place of refuge From the stormy wind and tempest.»

^9. [5] Confuse, O Lord, divide their tongues, For I have seen violence and strife in the city.

^10. Day and night they go around her upon her walls, And iniquity and mischief are in her midst.

^11. Destruction is in her midst; Oppression and deceit do not depart from her [6] streets.

^12. 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 myself from him.

^13. But it is you, a man [8] my equal, My companion and my [7] familiar friend;

^14. We who had sweet [9] fellowship together Walked in the house of God in the throng.

^15. Let [11] death come deceitfully upon them; Let them go down alive to [10] Sheol, For evil is in their dwelling, in their midst.

^16. As for me, I shall call upon God, And the LORD will save me.

^17. Evening and morning and at noon, I will complain and murmur, And He will hear my voice.

^18. He will redeem my soul in peace [12] from the battle which is against me, For they are many who strive with me.

^19. God will hear and [14] answer them -- Even the one who [13] sits enthroned from of old --

^20. He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him; He has [15] violated his covenant.

^21. His [16] speech was smoother than butter, But his heart was war; His words were softer than oil, Yet they were drawn swords.

^22. Cast [18] your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to [17] be shaken.

^23. But You, O God, will bring them down to the [19] pit of destruction; Men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You.