King James Version KJV
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.
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To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication!
2 Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;
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Attend to me, and answer me; I am overcome by my trouble. I am distraught
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.
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by the noise of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they bring trouble upon me, and in anger they cherish enmity against me.
4 My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
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My heart is in anguish within me, the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
5 Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
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Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me.
6 And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.
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And I say, "O that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest;
7 Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.
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yea, I would wander afar, I would lodge in the wilderness, [Selah]
8 I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.
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I would haste to find me a shelter from the raging wind and tempest."
9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
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Destroy their plans, O Lord, confuse their tongues; for I see 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.
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Day and night they go around it on its walls; and mischief and trouble are within it,
11 Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
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ruin is in its midst; oppression and fraud do not depart from its market place.
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:
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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.
13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.
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But it is you, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend.
14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.
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We used to hold sweet converse together; within God's house we walked in fellowship.
15 Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.
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Let death come upon them; let them go down to Sheol alive; let them go away in terror into their graves.
16 As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.
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But I call upon God; and the LORD will save me.
17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
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Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he will hear my voice.
18 He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.
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He will deliver my soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against 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.
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God will give ear, and humble them, he who is enthroned from of old; because they keep no law, and do not fear God. [Selah]
20 He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.
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My companion stretched out his hand against his friends, he violated his covenant.
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.
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His speech was smoother than butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.
22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
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Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.
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.
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But thou, O God, wilt cast them down into the lowest pit; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in thee.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.