1For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. Maschil of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God; And don't hide yourself from my supplication. 2Attend to me, and answer me: I am restless in my complaint, and moan, 3Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked; For they cast iniquity on me, And in anger they persecute me. 4My heart is very pained inside me: And the terrors of death have fallen on me. 5Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, And horror has overwhelmed me. 6And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then I would fly away, and stay at rest. 7Look, then I would wander far off, I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah. 8I would hurry myself to a shelter From the stormy wind and tempest. 9Destroy, O Lord, [and] divide their tongue; For I have seen violence and strife in the city. 10Day and night they go about it on its walls: Iniquity also and mischief are in the midst of it. 11Wickedness is in the midst of it: Oppression and guile do not depart from its streets. 12For it is not an enemy that reproached me; Or I could have borne it: It is not one who hated me that magnified himself against me; Or I would have hid myself from him: 13But it was you, [a] common man like me, My best friend who I knew well. 14We took sweet counsel together; We walked in the house of God with the throng. 15Let death come suddenly on them, Let them go down alive into Sheol; For wickedness is in their dwelling, in the midst of them. 16As for me, I will call on God; And Yahweh will save me. 17Evening, and morning, and at noonday, I will complain, and moan; And he will hear my voice. 18He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me; For they were many [that strove] with me. 19God will hear, and answer them, Even he who remains of old. Selah. [The men] who have no changes, And who don't fear God. 20He has put forth his hands against such as were at peace with him: He has profaned his covenant. 21His mouth was smooth as butter, But his heart was war: His words were softer than oil, Yet they were drawn swords. 22Cast your burden on Yahweh, and he will sustain you: He will never allow the righteous to be moved. 23But you, O God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction: Bloodthirsty and deceitful men will not live out half their days; But I will trust in you.