New International Version NIV
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea;
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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 hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught
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Attend to me, and answer me; I am overcome by my trouble. I am distraught
3 because 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.
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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 in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen on me.
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My heart is in anguish within me, the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
5 Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me.
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Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me.
6 I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would 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 I would flee far away and stay in the desert;
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yea, I would wander afar, I would lodge in the wilderness, [Selah]
8 I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.”
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I would haste to find me a shelter from the raging wind and tempest."
9 Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words, for I see 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 prowl about on its walls; malice and abuse are within it.
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Day and night they go around it on its walls; and mischief and trouble are within it,
11 Destructive forces are at work in the city; threats and lies never leave its streets.
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ruin is in its midst; oppression and fraud do not depart from its market place.
12 If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were rising against me, I could hide.
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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 is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend,
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But it is you, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend.
14 with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship at the house of God, as we walked about among the worshipers.
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We used to hold sweet converse together; within God's house we walked in fellowship.
15 Let death take my enemies by surprise; let them go down alive to the realm of the dead, for evil finds lodging 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 call to God, and the LORD saves me.
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But I call upon God; and the LORD will save me.
17 Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears 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 rescues me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose 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, who is enthroned from of old, who does not change— he will hear them and humble them, because they have no fear of 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 My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.
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My companion stretched out his hand against his friends, he violated his covenant.
21 His talk is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are 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 your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.
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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 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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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.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
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.