1 To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, [A Psalm] of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication. chief…: or, overseerMaschil: or, of instruction
2 Attend to me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;
3 Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.
4 My heart is greatly pained within me: and the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
5 Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. overwhelmed: Heb. covered
6 And I said, O that I had wings like a dove! for then I would fly away, and be at rest.
7 Lo, then I would wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.
8 I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.
9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they go about her upon her walls: mischief also and sorrow are in her midst.
11 Wickedness is in her midst: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
12 For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that magnified himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:
13 But it was thou, a man my equal, my guide, and my acquaintance. mine equal: Heb. according to my rank
14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked to the house of God in company. We…: Heb. Who sweetened counsel
15 Let death seize upon them, and let them go down alive into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them. hell: or, the grave
16 As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.
17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
18 He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.
19 God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God. Because…: or, With whom also there be no changes, yet they
20 He hath put forth his hands against such as are at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant. broken: Heb. profaned
21 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.
22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never allow the righteous to be moved. burden: or, gift
23 But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee. bloody…: Heb. men of bloods and deceitshall…: Heb. shall not half their days