1 Give ear, O God, [to] my prayer, and do not hide yourself from my plea. 2 Attend to me and answer me. I am restless in my lamenting and I groan, 3 because of [the] voice [of] an enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked, because they bring down evil on me, and in anger they hold a grudge [against] me.
4 My heart trembles within me, and deathly terrors fall on me. 5 Fear and trembling come on me, and horror overwhelms me. 6 So I say, "{Oh, that} I had wings like a dove. I would fly away and be at rest. 7 Look, I would flee far away. I would dwell in the wilderness. Selah 8 I would hurry to my refuge from [the] raging wind [and] storm."
9 Confuse, O Lord; divide their speech, because I see violence and strife in the city. 10 Day and night they go around it on its walls, and iniquity and trouble [are] in its midst. 11 Destruction [is] within it, and oppression and deceit do not depart from its public square.
12 For [it is] not an enemy [that] taunts me, or I could bear [it]. [It is not] one who hates me [that] magnifies himself over me, or I could hide myself from him. 13 But [it is] you, a man my equal, my friend and confidant. 14 [We] who would take sweet counsel together; in the house of God we would walk with [the] throng.
15 Let death deceive them. May they descend to Sheol alive, because evil [is] in their home [and] {heart}. 16 As for me, I will call to God, and Yahweh will save me. 17 {Morning, noon and night} I will lament and groan loudly, and he will hear my voice. 18 He safely redeems my life from [the] battle against me, because [those standing] against me are among many. 19 God will hear and answer them, [he] who [is] enthroned from of old, Selah Because they do not change, and they do not fear God.
20 He has put forth his hands against {his friends}; he has defiled his covenant. 21 The {buttery words} of his mouth were smooth, but [there was] battle in his heart. His words were smoother than oil, but they [were] drawn swords.
22 Cast your burden on Yahweh, and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved.
23 But you, O God, you will bring them down to [the] pit of corruption. [The] men of bloodshed and deceit will not live half their days, but I will trust you.