New Living Translation NLT
Common English Bible CEB
1 Listen to my prayer, O God. Do not ignore my cry for help!
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God, listen to my prayer; don't avoid my request!
2 Please listen and answer me, for I am overwhelmed by my troubles.
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Pay attention! Answer me! I can't sit still while complaining. I'm beside myself
3 My enemies shout at me, making loud and wicked threats. They bring trouble on me and angrily hunt me down.
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over the enemy's noise, at the wicked person's racket, because they bring disaster on me and harass me furiously.
4 My heart pounds in my chest. The terror of death assaults me.
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My heart pounds in my chest because death's terrors have reached me.
5 Fear and trembling overwhelm me, and I can’t stop shaking.
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Fear and trembling have come upon me; I'm shaking all over.
6 Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest!
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I say to myself, I wish I had wings like a dove! I'd fly away and rest.
7 I would fly far away to the quiet of the wilderness. Interlude
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I'd run so far away! I'd live in the desert. Selah far from the rushing wind and storm.
8 How quickly I would escape— far from this wild storm of hatred.
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I'd hurry to my hideout,
9 Confuse them, Lord, and frustrate their plans, for I see violence and conflict in the city.
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Baffle them, my Lord! Confuse their language because I see violence and conflict in the city.
10 Its walls are patrolled day and night against invaders, but the real danger is wickedness within the city.
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Day and night they make their rounds on its walls, and evil and misery live inside it.
11 Everything is falling apart; threats and cheating are rampant in the streets.
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Disaster lives inside it; oppression and fraud never leave the town square.
12 It is not an enemy who taunts me— I could bear that. It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me— I could have hidden from them.
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It's not an enemy that is insulting me— I could handle that. It's not someone who hates me who is exalted over me— I could hide from them.
13 Instead, it is you—my equal, my companion and close friend.
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No. It's you, my equal, my close companion, my good friend!
14 What good fellowship we once enjoyed as we walked together to the house of God.
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It was so pleasant when together we entered God's house with the crowd.
15 Let death stalk my enemies; let the grave swallow them alive, for evil makes its home within them.
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Let death devastate my enemies; let them go to the grave alive because evil lives with them— even inside them!
16 But I will call on God, and the LORD will rescue me.
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But I call out to God, and the LORD will rescue me.
17 Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my distress, and the LORD hears my voice.
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At evening, morning, and midday I complain and moan so that God will hear my voice.
18 He ransoms me and keeps me safe from the battle waged against me, though many still oppose me.
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He saves me, unharmed, from my struggle, though there are many who are out to get me.
19 God, who has ruled forever, will hear me and humble them. Interlude For my enemies refuse to change their ways; they do not fear God.
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God, who is enthroned from ancient days, will hear and humble them Selah because they don't change and they don't worship God.
20 As for my companion, he betrayed his friends; he broke his promises.
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My friend attacked his allies, breaking his covenant.
21 His words are as smooth as butter, but in his heart is war. His words are as soothing as lotion, but underneath are daggers!
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Though his talk is smoother than butter, war is in his heart; though his words are more silky than oil, they are really drawn swords:
22 Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.
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"Cast your burden on the LORD— he will support you! God will never let the righteous be shaken!"
23 But you, O God, will send the wicked down to the pit of destruction. Murderers and liars will die young, but I am trusting you to save me.
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But you, God, bring the wicked down to the deepest pit. Let bloodthirsty and treacherous people not live out even half their days. But me? I trust in you!
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible