55

Trust in God Concerning the Treachery of Friends

To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Contemplation of David.
  1Give ear to my prayer, O God,
   And do not hide Yourself from my supplication.
   2Attend to me, and hear me;
   I am restless in my complaint, and moan noisily,
   3Because of the voice of the enemy,
   Because of the oppression of the wicked;
   For they bring down trouble upon me,
   And in wrath they hate me.
  4My heart is severely pained within me,
   And the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
   5Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me,
   And horror has overwhelmed me.
   6So I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove!
   I would fly away and be at rest.
   7Indeed, I would wander far off,
   And remain in the wilderness.
Selah
   8I would hasten my escape
   From the windy storm and tempest.”
  9Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues,
   For I have seen violence and strife in the city.
   10Day and night they go around it on its walls;
   Iniquity and trouble are also in the midst of it.
   11Destruction is in its midst;
   Oppression and deceit do not depart from its streets.
  12For it is not an enemy who reproaches me;
   Then I could bear it.
   Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me;
   Then I could hide from him.
   13But it was you, a man my equal,
   My companion and my acquaintance.
   14We took sweet counsel together,
   Andwalked to the house of God in the throng.
  15Let death seize them;
   Let them go down alive into hell,
   For wickedness is in their dwellings and among them.
  16As for me, I will call upon God,
   And the Lord shall save me.
   17Evening and morning and at noon
   I will pray, and cry aloud,
   And He shall hear my voice.
   18He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me,
   For there were many against me.
   19God will hear, and afflict them,
   Even He who abides from of old.
Selah
   Because they do not change,
   Therefore they do not fear God.
  20He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him;
   He has broken his covenant.
   21The words of his mouth were smoother than butter,
   But war was in his heart;
   His words were softer than oil,
   Yet they were drawn swords.
  22Cast your burden on the Lord,
   And He shall sustain you;
   He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.
  23But You, O God, shall bring them down to the pit of destruction;
   Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days;
   But I will trust in You.