¶ To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David. Give² ear to my prayer, O God; and hide³ not thyself from my supplication.

Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn⁴ in my complaint, and make a noise;

Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression⁵ of the wicked: for they⁶ cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.

My⁷ heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors⁸ of death are fallen upon me.

Fearfulness⁹ and trembling are come upon me, and horror¹⁰ hath overwhelmed¹¹ me.

¹²And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.

¹³Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.

I would hasten my escape from the windy storm¹⁴ and tempest.

¶ Destroy, O Lord, and divide¹⁵ their tongues: for I have¹⁶ seen violence and strife in the city.

¶ Day¹⁷ and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief¹⁸ also and sorrow are in the midst of it.

Wickedness¹⁹ is in the midst thereof: deceit²⁰ and guile depart not from her streets.

For²¹ it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify²² himself against me; then I²³ would have hid myself from him:

But it was thou, a man mine equal²⁴, my guide, and mine acquaintance²⁵.

We took sweet counsel together²⁶, and walked unto the house of God in company.

Let death²⁷ seize upon them,²⁸ and let them go down quick into hell²⁹: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.

¶³⁰As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.

Evening³¹, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry³² aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

He hath³³ delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there³⁴ were many with me.

God shall hear³⁵, and afflict them, even³⁶ he that abideth of old. Selah. Because³⁷ they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.

¶ He hath put³⁸ forth his hands against such as be at peace³⁹ with him: he hath broken⁴⁰ his covenant.

The words⁴¹ of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war⁴² was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.

Cast⁴³ thy burden⁴⁴ upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

But thou, O God⁴⁵, shalt bring them down into the pit⁴⁶ of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days⁴⁷; but I will trust in thee.