1 Listen to my prayer, O God. Do not hide from my plea for favor.
2 Pay attention to me, and answer me. My thoughts are restless. I am confused and distracted.
3 This is because my enemy shouts at me and a wicked person persecutes me. They bring misery crashing down on me, and they attack me out of anger.
4 My heart is in turmoil within me. The terrors of death have seized me.
5 Fear and trembling have overcome me. Horror has overwhelmed me.
6 I said: If only I had wings like a dove. I would fly away and find rest.
7 I would run far away. I would stay in the desert.
8 I would hurry to a place of refuge from the raging wind and storm.
9 Confuse their language, O Jehovah, because I see violence and conflict in the city.
10 Day and night they go around on top of the city walls. Trouble and misery are everywhere.
11 Destruction is everywhere. Oppression and fraud never leave the streets.
12 If an enemy had insulted me, then I could tolerate it. If someone who hated me had attacked me, then I could hide from him.
13 But it is you, my equal, my close friend, and a well-known companion!
14 We took sweet fellowship together and walked into God's house with the crowds.
15 Let death suddenly take them! Let them go into the grave while they are still alive, for evil lives in their homes and within them.
16 But I call on God, and Jehovah saves me.
17 Morning, noon, and night I complain and murmur. He listens to my voice.
18 In peace he will rescue me from the war waged against me. There are many against me.
19 God will listen and answer them. The one who has sat enthroned from the beginning will deal with them. They never change. They never respect God.
20 He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him. He has violated his covenant.
21 His speech was smoother than butter, but his heart was war! His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.
22 Throw your burden upon Jehovah and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be shaken!
23 But You, O God, will bring them down to the corruption of the grave. Men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in you.