Cast Your Cares on the Lord

(2 Samuel 17:15-29)

1Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not yourself from my supplication.

2Attend to me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;

3Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity on me, and in wrath they hate me.

4My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen on me.

5Fearfulness and trembling are come on me, and horror has overwhelmed me.

6And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.

7See, then would I 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 about it on the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the middle of it.

11Wickedness is in the middle thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.

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 you, a man my equal, my guide, and my acquaintance.

14We took sweet counsel together, and walked to the house of God in company.

15Let death seize on them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.

16As for me, I will call on God; and the LORD shall save me.

17Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

18He has delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.

19God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that stays of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.

20He has put forth his hands against such as be 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 were they drawn swords.

22Cast your burden on the LORD, and he shall sustain you: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

23But you, O God, shall bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in you.