1 Give ear, O God, to my prayer; and hide not Thyself from my supplication.

2 Attend unto me, and hear me; I am distraught in my complaint, and will moan;

3 Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked; for they cast mischief upon me, and in anger they persecute me.

4 My heart doth writhe within me; and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.

5 Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.

6 And I said: 'Oh that I had wings like a dove! then would I fly away, and be at rest.

7 Lo, then would I wander far off, I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah

8 I would haste me to a shelter from the stormy wind and tempest.'

9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongue; for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

10 Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof; iniquity also and mischief are in the midst of it.

11 Wickedness is in the midst thereof; oppression and guile depart not from her broad place.

12 For it was not an enemy that taunted me, then I could have borne it; neither was it mine adversary that did magnify himself against me, then I would have hid myself from him.

13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, my companion, and my familiar friend;

14 We took sweet counsel together, in the house of God we walked with the throng.

15 May He incite death against them, let them go down alive into the nether-world; for evil is in their dwelling, and within them.

16 As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.

17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I complain, and moan; and He hath heard my voice.

18 He hath redeemed my soul in peace so that none came nigh me; for they were many that strove with me.

19 God shall hear, and humble them, even He that is enthroned of old, Selah , such as have no changes, and fear not God.

20 He hath put forth his hands against them that were at peace with him; he hath profaned his covenant.

21 Smoother than cream were the speeches of his mouth, but his heart was war; his words were softer than oil, yet were they keen-edged swords.

22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He will sustain thee; He will never suffer the righteous to be moved.

23 But Thou, O God, wilt bring them down into the nethermost pit; men of blood and deceit shall not live out half their days; but as for me, I will trust in Thee.