1To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Maskil[1] of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy! (Ps 4:1; Ps 54:2; Ps 61:1; Ps 86:6)2Attend to me, and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and I moan, (Ps 55:17; Ps 64:1; Isa 38:14; Isa 59:11)3because of the noise of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they drop trouble upon me, and in anger they bear a grudge against me. (2Sa 16:7)4My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen upon me. (Ps 116:3)5Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me. (Job 21:6; Ps 78:53; Isa 21:4; Eze 7:18)6And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest;7yes, I would wander far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; (Jer 9:2)8I would hurry to find a shelter from the raging wind and tempest.” (Ps 83:15)9Destroy, O Lord, divide their tongues; for I see violence and strife in the city. (Ge 11:9; Jer 6:7)10Day and night they go around it on its walls, and iniquity and trouble are within it; (Ps 5:9)11ruin is in its midst; oppression and fraud do not depart from its marketplace. (Ps 10:7)12For it is not an enemy who taunts me— then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me— then I could hide from him. (Job 19:5)13But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. (2Sa 15:12; 2Sa 16:23; Ps 41:9)14We used to take sweet counsel together; within God’s house we walked in the throng. (Ps 42:4)15Let death steal over them; let them go down to Sheol alive; for evil is in their dwelling place and in their heart. (Nu 16:30; Nu 16:33; Ps 124:3; Pr 1:12)16But I call to God, and the Lord will save me.17Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice. (Ps 5:3; Ps 55:2; Ps 88:13; Ps 92:2; Ps 141:2; Da 6:10; Ac 3:1; Ac 10:3; Ac 10:9; Ac 10:30)18He redeems my soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against me. (Ps 56:2)19God will give ear and humble them, he who is enthroned from of old, because they do not change and do not fear God. (De 33:27; Job 10:17; Job 21:7)20My companion[2] stretched out his hand against his friends; he violated his covenant. (Ac 12:1)21His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords. (Ps 28:3; Ps 57:4; Pr 5:3)22Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. (Ps 10:6; Ps 37:5)23But you, O God, will cast them down into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in you. (Job 15:32; Ps 5:6; Ps 11:1; Ps 55:15; Ps 56:7; Ps 59:11; Ps 69:15; Ps 94:13; Pr 10:27)