The Prayer of Someone Betrayed by a Friend+

1Hear my prayer, O God;

don't turn away from my plea!

2Listen to me and answer me;

I am worn out by my worries.

3I am terrified by the threats of my enemies,

crushed by the oppression of the wicked.

They bring trouble on me;

they are angry with me and hate me.

4I am terrified,

and the terrors of death crush me.

5I am gripped by fear and trembling;

I am overcome with horror.

6I wish I had wings like a dove.

I would fly away and find rest.

7I would fly far away

and make my home in the desert.

8I would hurry and find myself a shelter

from the raging wind and the storm.

9Confuse the speech of my enemies, O Lord!

I see violence and riots in the city,

10surrounding it day and night,

filling it with crime and trouble.

11There is destruction everywhere;

the streets are full of oppression and fraud.

12If it were an enemy making fun of me,

I could endure it;

if it were an opponent boasting over me,

I could hide myself from him.

13But it is you, my companion,

my colleague and close friend.

14We had intimate talks with each other

and worshiped together in the Temple.

15May my enemies die before their time;

may they go down alive into the world of the dead!

Evil is in their homes and in their hearts.

16But I call to the Lord God for help,

and he will save me.

17Morning, noon, and night

my complaints and groans go up to him,

and he will hear my voice.

18He will bring me safely back

from the battles that I fight

against so many enemies.

19God, who has ruled from eternity,

will hear me and defeat them;

for they refuse to change,

and they do not fear him.

20My former companion attacked his friends;

he broke his promises.

21His words were smoother than cream,

but there was hatred in his heart;

his words were as soothing as oil,

but they cut like sharp swords.

22Leave your troubles with the Lord,

and he will defend you;

he never lets honest people be defeated.

23But you, O God, will bring those murderers and liars to their graves

before half their life is over.

As for me, I will trust in you.