Psalms

¹Listen to my prayer, God. Don’t hide yourself from my supplication. ²Attend to me, and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and moan ³because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they bring suffering on me. In anger they hold a grudge against me. ⁴My heart is severely pained within me. The terrors of death have fallen on me. ⁵Fearfulness and trembling have come on me. Horror has overwhelmed me. ⁶I said, “Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then I would fly away, and be at rest. ⁷Behold, then I would wander far off. I would lodge in the wilderness.” Selah. ⁸“I would hurry to a shelter from the stormy wind and storm.” ⁹Confuse them, Lord, and confound their language, for I have seen violence and strife in the city. ¹⁰Day and night they prowl around on its walls. Malice and abuse are also within her. ¹¹Destructive forces are within her. Threats and lies don’t depart from her streets. ¹²For it was not an enemy who insulted me, then I could have endured it. Neither was it he who hated me who raised himself up against me, then I would have hidden myself from him. ¹³But it was you, a man like me, my companion, and my familiar friend. ¹⁴We took sweet fellowship together. We walked in God’s house with company. ¹⁵Let death come suddenly on them. Let them go down alive into Sheol. For wickedness is among them, in their dwelling. ¹⁶As for me, I will call on God. The LORD will save me. ¹⁷Evening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress. He will hear my voice. ¹⁸He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, although there are many who oppose me. ¹⁹God, who is enthroned forever, will hear and answer them. Selah. They never change and don’t fear God. ²⁰He raises his hands against his friends. He has violated his covenant. ²¹His mouth was smooth as butter, but his heart was war. His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords. ²²Cast your burden on the LORD and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved. ²³But you, God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction. Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days, but I will trust in you.