1For the chief musician; on stringed instruments. A maschil of David. Give ear to my prayer, God; and do not hide yourself from my plea.
2Pay attention to me and answer me; I have no rest in my troubles
3because of the voice of my enemies, because of the oppression of the wicked; for they bring trouble on me and persecute me in anger.
4My heart trembles within me, and the terrors of death have fallen on me.
5Fearfulness and trembling have come on me, and horror has overwhelmed me.
6I said, “Oh, if only I had wings like a dove! Then would I fly away and be at rest.
7See, then I would wander far away; I would stay in the wilderness. Selah
8I would hurry to a shelter from the stormy wind and tempest.”
9Devour them, Lord, confuse their language! For I have seen violence and strife in the city.
10Day and night they go about on its walls; iniquity and mischief are in the middle of it.
11Wickedness is in the middle of it; oppression and deceit do not leave its streets.
12For it was not an enemy who rebuked me, then I could have borne it; neither was it he who hated me who raised himself up against me, then I would have hidden myself from him.
13But it was you, a man equal to myself, my companion and my close friend.
14We had sweet fellowship together; we walked in the house of God with the throng.