¹ To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David.Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.¹²

1. chief…: or, overseer
2. Maschil: or, of instruction

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

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

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

⁵ Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.¹

1. overwhelmed: Heb. covered

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

⁷ Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.

⁸ I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.

⁹ Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

¹⁰ Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.

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

¹² For 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:

¹³ But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.¹

1. mine equal: Heb. according to my rank

¹⁴ We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.¹

1. We…: Heb. Who sweetened counsel

¹⁵ Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.¹

1. hell: or, the grave

¹⁶ As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me.

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

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

¹⁹ God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.¹

1. Because…: or, With whom also there be no changes, yet they

²⁰ He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.¹

1. broken: Heb. profaned

²¹ The 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.

²² Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.¹

1. burden: or, gift

²³ But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.¹²

1. bloody…: Heb. men of bloods and deceit
2. shall…: Heb. shall not half their days