Revised Standard Version RSV
Good News Translation GNT
1 To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication!
1
Hear my prayer, O God; don't turn away from my plea!
2 Attend to me, and answer me; I am overcome by my trouble. I am distraught
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Listen to me and answer me; I am worn out by my worries.
3 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.
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I am terrified by the threats of my enemies, crushed by the oppression of the wicked. They bring trouble on me; they are angry with me and hate me.
4 My heart is in anguish within me, the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
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I am terrified, and the terrors of death crush me.
5 Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me.
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I am gripped by fear and trembling; I am overcome with horror.
6 And I say, "O that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest;
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I wish I had wings like a dove. I would fly away and find rest.
7 yea, I would wander afar, I would lodge in the wilderness, [Selah]
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I would fly far away and make my home in the desert.
8 I would haste to find me a shelter from the raging wind and tempest."
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I would hurry and find myself a shelter from the raging wind and the storm.
9 Destroy their plans, O Lord, confuse their tongues; for I see violence and strife in the city.
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Confuse the speech of my enemies, O Lord! I see violence and riots in the city,
10 Day and night they go around it on its walls; and mischief and trouble are within it,
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surrounding it day and night, filling it with crime and trouble.
11 ruin is in its midst; oppression and fraud do not depart from its market place.
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There is destruction everywhere; the streets are full of oppression and fraud.
12 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.
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If it were an enemy making fun of me, I could endure it; if it were an opponent boasting over me, I could hide myself from him.
13 But it is you, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend.
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But it is you, my companion, my colleague and close friend.
14 We used to hold sweet converse together; within God's house we walked in fellowship.
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We had intimate talks with each other and worshiped together in the Temple.
15 Let death come upon them; let them go down to Sheol alive; let them go away in terror into their graves.
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May my enemies die before their time; may they go down alive into the world of the dead! Evil is in their homes and in their hearts.
16 But I call upon God; and the LORD will save me.
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But I call to the Lord God for help, and he will save me.
17 Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he will hear my voice.
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Morning, noon, and night my complaints and groans go up to him, and he will hear my voice.
18 He will deliver my soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against me.
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He will bring me safely back from the battles that I fight against so many enemies.
19 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]
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God, who has ruled from eternity, will hear me and defeat them; for they refuse to change, and they do not fear him.
20 My companion stretched out his hand against his friends, he violated his covenant.
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My former companion attacked his friends; he broke his promises.
21 His speech was smoother than butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.
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His words were smoother than cream, but there was hatred in his heart; his words were as soothing as oil, but they cut like sharp swords.
22 Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.
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Leave your troubles with the Lord, and he will defend you; he never lets honest people be defeated.
23 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.
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But you, O God, will bring those murderers and liars to their graves before half their life is over. As for me, I will trust in you.
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.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.