Not so with the wicked! Instead they are like wind-driven chaff.

They say, "Let's tear off the shackles they've put on us! Let's free ourselves from their ropes!"

For they do not speak the truth; their stomachs are like the place of destruction, their throats like an open grave, their tongues like a steep slope leading into it.

Condemn them, O God! May their own schemes be their downfall! Drive them away because of their many acts of insurrection, for they have rebelled against you.

But may all who take shelter in you be happy! May they continually shout for joy! Shelter them so that those who are loyal to you may rejoice!

My eyes grow dim from suffering; they grow weak because of all my enemies.

May all my enemies be humiliated and absolutely terrified! May they turn back and be suddenly humiliated!

Otherwise they will rip me to shreds like a lion; they will tear me to bits and no one will be able to rescue me.

O Lord my God, if I have done what they say, or am guilty of unjust actions,

When my enemies turn back, they trip and are defeated before you.

when they prayed: "Have mercy on me, Lord! See how I am oppressed by those who hate me, O one who can snatch me away from the gates of death!

The nations fell into the pit they had made; their feet were caught in the net they had hidden.

Terrify them, Lord! Let the nations know they are mere mortals! (Selah)

His victims are crushed and beaten down; they are trapped in his sturdy nets.

For look, the wicked prepare their bows, they put their arrows on the strings, to shoot in the darkness at the morally upright.

May the Lord rain down burning coals and brimstone on the wicked! A whirlwind is what they deserve!

People lie to one another; they flatter and deceive.

They say, "We speak persuasively; we know how to flatter and boast. Who is our master?"

"Because of the violence done to the oppressed, because of the painful cries of the needy, I will spring into action," says the Lord. "I will provide the safety they so desperately desire."

The Lord's words are absolutely reliable. They are as untainted as silver purified in a furnace on the ground, where it is thoroughly refined.

For the music director; by David. Fools say to themselves, "There is no God." They sin and commit evil deeds; none of them does what is right.

Everyone rejects God; they are all morally corrupt. None of them does what is right, not even one!

All those who behave wickedly do not understand -- those who devour my people as if they were eating bread, and do not call out to the Lord.

They are absolutely terrified, for God defends the godly.

their troubles multiply, they desire other gods. I will not pour out drink offerings of blood to their gods, nor will I make vows in the name of their gods.

They are calloused; they speak arrogantly.

They attack me, now they surround me; they intend to throw me to the ground.

Lord, use your power to deliver me from these murderers, from the murderers of this world! They enjoy prosperity; you overwhelm them with the riches they desire. They have many children, and leave their wealth to their offspring.

The earth heaved and shook; the roots of the mountains trembled; they heaved because he was angry.

He rescued me from my strong enemy, from those who hate me, for they were too strong for me.

They confronted me in my day of calamity, but the Lord helped me.

I beat them to death; they fall at my feet.

They cry out, but there is no one to help them; they cry out to the Lord, but he does not answer them.

When they hear of my exploits, they submit to me. Foreigners are powerless before me;

foreigners lose their courage; they shake with fear as they leave their strongholds.

They are of greater value than gold, than even a great amount of pure gold; they bring greater delight than honey, than even the sweetest honey from a honeycomb.

They will fall down, but we will stand firm.

Yes, they intend to do you harm; they dream up a scheme, but they do not succeed.

In you our ancestors trusted; they trusted in you and you rescued them.

To you they cried out, and they were saved; in you they trusted and they were not disappointed.

All who see me taunt me; they mock me and shake their heads.

They say, "Commit yourself to the Lord! Let the Lord rescue him! Let the Lord deliver him, for he delights in him."

They open their mouths to devour me like a roaring lion that rips its prey.

Yes, wild dogs surround me -- a gang of evil men crowd around me; like a lion they pin my hands and feet.

They are dividing up my clothes among themselves; they are rolling dice for my garments.

A whole generation will serve him; they will tell the next generation about the sovereign Lord.

They will come and tell about his saving deeds; they will tell a future generation what he has accomplished.

The Lord shows his faithful followers the way they should live.

They experience his favor; their descendants inherit the land.

Watch my enemies, for they outnumber me; they hate me and want to harm me.

When evil men attack me to devour my flesh, when my adversaries and enemies attack me, they stumble and fall.

Do not drag me away with evil men, with those who behave wickedly, who talk so friendly to their neighbors, while they plan to harm them!

Pay them back for their evil deeds! Pay them back for what they do! Punish them!

For they do not understand the Lord's actions, or the way he carries out justice. The Lord will permanently demolish them.

You will free me from the net they hid for me, for you are my place of refuge.

For I hear what so many are saying, the terrifying news that comes from every direction. When they plot together against me, they figure out how they can take my life.

O Lord, do not let me be humiliated, for I call out to you! May evil men be humiliated! May they go wailing to the grave!

You hide them with you, where they are safe from the attacks of men; you conceal them in a shelter, where they are safe from slanderous attacks.

Do not be like an unintelligent horse or mule, which will not obey you unless they are controlled by a bridle and bit.

May they be like wind-driven chaff, as the Lord's angel attacks them!

I did not harm them, but they hid a net to catch me and dug a pit to trap me.

Let destruction take them by surprise! Let the net they hid catch them! Let them fall into destruction!

They repay me evil for the good I have done; I am overwhelmed with sorrow.

When they were sick, I wore sackcloth, and refrained from eating food. (If I am lying, may my prayers go unanswered!)

But when I stumbled, they rejoiced and gathered together; they gathered together to ambush me. They tore at me without stopping to rest.

When I tripped, they taunted me relentlessly, and tried to bite me.

For they do not try to make peace with others, but plan ways to deceive those who are unsuspecting.

They are ready to devour me; they say, "Aha! Aha! We've got you!"

May those who desire my vindication shout for joy and rejoice! May they continually say, "May the Lord be praised, for he wants his servant to be secure."

They are filled with food from your house, and you allow them to drink from the river of your delicacies.

I can see the evildoers! They have fallen! They have been knocked down and are unable to get up!

For they will quickly dry up like grass, and wither away like plants.

Evil men will soon disappear; you will stare at the spot where they once were, but they will be gone.

The Lord watches over the innocent day by day and they possess a permanent inheritance.

They will not be ashamed when hard times come; when famine comes they will have enough to eat.

But evil men will die; the Lord's enemies will be incinerated -- they will go up in smoke.

For the Lord promotes justice, and never abandons his faithful followers. They are permanently secure, but the children of evil men are wiped out.

But then one passes by, and suddenly they have disappeared! I looked for them, but they could not be found.

The Lord helps them and rescues them; he rescues them from evil men and delivers them, for they seek his protection.

For my sins overwhelm me; like a heavy load, they are too much for me to bear.

Those who seek my life try to entrap me; those who want to harm me speak destructive words; all day long they say deceitful things.

I have prayed for deliverance, because otherwise they will gloat over me; when my foot slips they will arrogantly taunt me.

They repay me evil for the good I have done; though I have tried to do good to them, they hurl accusations at me.

Surely people go through life as mere ghosts. Surely they accumulate worthless wealth without knowing who will eventually haul it away."

He gave me reason to sing a new song, praising our God. May many see what God has done, so that they might swear allegiance to him and trust in the Lord!

O Lord, my God, you have accomplished many things; you have done amazing things and carried out your purposes for us. No one can thwart you! I want to declare them and talk about them, but they are too numerous to recount!

For innumerable dangers surround me. My sins overtake me so I am unable to see; they outnumber the hairs of my head so my strength fails me.

All who hate me whisper insults about me to one another; they plan ways to harm me.

They say, 'An awful disease overwhelms him, and now that he is bed-ridden he will never recover.'

I cannot eat, I weep day and night; all day long they say to me, "Where is your God?"

My enemies' taunts cut into me to the bone, as they say to me all day long, "Where is your God?"

Reveal your light and your faithfulness! They will lead me, they will escort me back to your holy hill, and to the place where you live.

For they did not conquer the land by their swords, and they did not prevail by their strength, but rather by your power, strength and good favor, for you were partial to them.

You made us retreat from the enemy. Those who hate us take whatever they want from us.

They are bubbling with joy as they walk in procession and enter the royal palace.

For look, the kings assemble; they advance together.

As soon as they see, they are shocked; they are terrified, they quickly retreat.

They trust in their wealth and boast in their great riches.

Their grave becomes their permanent residence, their eternal dwelling place. They name their lands after themselves,

but, despite their wealth, people do not last, they are like animals that perish.