1Give ear to my prayer, O God; And hide not thyself from my supplication. 2Attend unto 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 upon me , And in anger they persecute me . 4My heart is sore pained within me : And the terrors of death are fallen upon me . 5Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me , And horror hath overwhelmed me .
The Source of Fear
6And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then would I fly away, and be at rest. 7Lo, then would I wander far off , I would lodge in the wilderness. [Selah 8I would haste me 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 upon the walls thereof : Iniquity also and mischief are in the midst of it . 11Wickedness is in the midst thereof : Oppression and guile depart not from its streets.
A Call for Justice
12For it was not an enemy that reproached me ; Then I could have borne it : Neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me ; Then I would have hid myself from him : 13But it was thou , a man mine equal, My companion, and my familiar friend. 14We took sweet counsel together; We walked in the house of God with the throng. 15Let death come suddenly upon them , Let them go down alive into Sheol; For wickedness is in their dwelling, in the midst of them .
The Assurance of Deliverance
16As for me , I will call upon God; And Jehovah will save me . 17Evening, and morning, and at noonday, will I complain, and moan; And he will hear my voice. 18He hath 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 that abideth of old, [Selah The men who have no changes, And who fear not God. 20He hath put forth his hands against such as were at peace with him : He hath profaned his covenant. 21His mouth was smooth as butter, But his heart was war: His words were softer than oil, Yet were they drawn swords. 22Cast thy burden upon Jehovah , and he will sustain thee: He will never suffer the righteous to be moved. 23But thou , O God , wilt bring them down into the pit of destruction: Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days ; But I will trust in thee .