| NET Bible | New International Version |
| 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! | 1For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil of David. Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea; |
| 2Pay attention to me and answer me! I am so upset and distressed, I am beside myself, | 2hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught |
| 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. | 3because of what my enemy is saying, because of the threats of the wicked; for they bring down suffering on me and assail me in their anger. |
| 4My heart beats violently within me; the horrors of death overcome me. | 4My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen on me. |
| 5Fear and panic overpower me; terror overwhelms me. | 5Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me. |
| 6I say, "I wish I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and settle in a safe place! | 6I said, "Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. |
| 7Look, I will escape to a distant place; I will stay in the wilderness. (Selah) | 7I would flee far away and stay in the desert; |
| 8I will hurry off to a place that is safe from the strong wind and the gale." | 8I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm." |
| 9Confuse them, O Lord! Frustrate their plans! For I see violence and conflict in the city. | 9Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words, for I see violence and strife in the city. |
| 10Day and night they walk around on its walls, while wickedness and destruction are within it. | 10Day and night they prowl about on its walls; malice and abuse are within it. |
| 11Disaster is within it; violence and deceit do not depart from its public square. | 11Destructive forces are at work in the city; threats and lies never leave its streets. |
| 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. | 12If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were rising against me, I could hide. |
| 13But it is you, a man like me, my close friend in whom I confided. | 13But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, |
| 14We would share personal thoughts with each other; in God's temple we would walk together among the crowd. | 14with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship at the house of God, as we walked about among the worshipers. |
| 15May death destroy them! May they go down alive into Sheol! For evil is in their dwelling place and in their midst. | 15Let death take my enemies by surprise; let them go down alive to the realm of the dead, for evil finds lodging among them. |
| 16As for me, I will call out to God, and the LORD will deliver me. | 16As for me, I call to God, and the LORD saves me. |
| 17During the evening, morning, and noontime I will lament and moan, and he will hear me. | 17Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. |
| 18He will rescue me and protect me from those who attack me, even though they greatly outnumber me. | 18He rescues me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me. |
| 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. | 19God, who is enthroned from of old, who does not change-- he will hear them and humble them, because they have no fear of God. |
| 20He attacks his friends; he breaks his solemn promises to them. | 20My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant. |
| 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. | 21His talk is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords. |
| 22Throw your burden upon the LORD, and he will sustain you. He will never allow the godly to be upended. | 22Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. |
| 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. | 23But you, God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of decay; the bloodthirsty and deceitful will not live out half their days. But as for me, I trust in you. |
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