New Living Translation | NET Bible |
1Listen to my prayer, O God. Do not ignore my cry for help! | 1For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments; a well-written song by David. Listen, O God, to my prayer! Do not ignore my appeal for mercy! |
2Please listen and answer me, for I am overwhelmed by my troubles. | 2Pay attention to me and answer me! I am so upset and distressed, I am beside myself, |
3My enemies shout at me, making loud and wicked threats. They bring trouble on me and angrily hunt me down. | 3because of what the enemy says, and because of how the wicked pressure me, for they hurl trouble down upon me and angrily attack me. |
4My heart pounds in my chest. The terror of death assaults me. | 4My heart beats violently within me; the horrors of death overcome me. |
5Fear and trembling overwhelm me, and I can’t stop shaking. | 5Fear and panic overpower me; terror overwhelms me. |
6Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest! | 6I say, "I wish I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and settle in a safe place! |
7I would fly far away to the quiet of the wilderness. Interlude | 7Look, I will escape to a distant place; I will stay in the wilderness. (Selah) |
8How quickly I would escape— far from this wild storm of hatred. | 8I will hurry off to a place that is safe from the strong wind and the gale." |
9Confuse them, Lord, and frustrate their plans, for I see violence and conflict in the city. | 9Confuse them, O Lord! Frustrate their plans! For I see violence and conflict in the city. |
10Its walls are patrolled day and night against invaders, but the real danger is wickedness within the city. | 10Day and night they walk around on its walls, while wickedness and destruction are within it. |
11Everything is falling apart; threats and cheating are rampant in the streets. | 11Disaster is within it; violence and deceit do not depart from its public square. |
12It is not an enemy who taunts me— I could bear that. It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me— I could have hidden from them. | 12Indeed, it is not an enemy who insults me, or else I could bear it; it is not one who hates me who arrogantly taunts me, or else I could hide from him. |
13Instead, it is you—my equal, my companion and close friend. | 13But it is you, a man like me, my close friend in whom I confided. |
14What good fellowship we once enjoyed as we walked together to the house of God. | 14We would share personal thoughts with each other; in God's temple we would walk together among the crowd. |
15Let death stalk my enemies; let the grave swallow them alive, for evil makes its home within them. | 15May death destroy them! May they go down alive into Sheol! For evil is in their dwelling place and in their midst. |
16But I will call on God, and the LORD will rescue me. | 16As for me, I will call out to God, and the LORD will deliver me. |
17Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my distress, and the LORD hears my voice. | 17During the evening, morning, and noontime I will lament and moan, and he will hear me. |
18He ransoms me and keeps me safe from the battle waged against me, though many still oppose me. | 18He will rescue me and protect me from those who attack me, even though they greatly outnumber me. |
19God, who has ruled forever, will hear me and humble them. Interlude For my enemies refuse to change their ways; they do not fear God. | 19God, the one who has reigned as king from long ago, will hear and humiliate them. (Selah) They refuse to change, and do not fear God. |
20As for my companion, he betrayed his friends; he broke his promises. | 20He attacks his friends; he breaks his solemn promises to them. |
21His words are as smooth as butter, but in his heart is war. His words are as soothing as lotion, but underneath are daggers! | 21His words are as smooth as butter, but he harbors animosity in his heart. His words seem softer than oil, but they are really like sharp swords. |
22Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. | 22Throw your burden upon the LORD, and he will sustain you. He will never allow the godly to be upended. |
23But you, O God, will send the wicked down to the pit of destruction. Murderers and liars will die young, but I am trusting you to save me. | 23But you, O God, will bring them down to the deep Pit. Violent and deceitful people will not live even half a normal lifespan. But as for me, I trust in you. |
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