(A special psalm by David for the music leader. Use with stringed instruments.)
Betrayed by a Friend
1 Listen, God, to my prayer!
Don't reject my request.
2 Please listen and help me.
My thoughts are troubled,
and I keep groaning
3 because my enemies attack
with loud shouts.
They treat me terribly
and hold angry grudges.
4 My heart is racing fast,
and I am afraid of dying.
5 I am trembling with fear,
completely terrified.
6 I wish I had wings
like a dove,
so I could fly far away
and be at peace.
7 I would go and live
in some distant desert.
8 I would quickly find shelter
from howling winds
and raging storms.
9 Confuse my enemies, Lord!
Upset their plans.
Cruelty and violence
are all I see in the city,
10 and they are like guards
on patrol day and night.
The city is full of trouble,
evil, 11 and corruption.
Troublemakers and liars
freely roam the streets.
12 My enemies are not the ones
who sneer and make fun.
I could put up with that
or even hide from them.
13 But it was my closest friend,
the one I trusted most.
14 We enjoyed being together,
when we went with others
to your house, our God.
15 All who hate me are controlled
by the power of evil.
Sentence them to death
and send them down alive
to the world of the dead.
16 I ask for your help, Lord God,
and you will keep me safe.
17 Morning, noon, and night
you hear my concerns
and my complaints.
18 I am attacked from all sides,
but you will rescue me
unharmed by the battle.
19 You have always ruled,
and you will hear me.
You will defeat my enemies
because they won't turn
and worship you.
20 My friend turned against me
and broke his promise.
21 His words were smoother
than butter, and softer
than olive oil.
But hatred filled his heart,
and he was ready to attack
with a sword.
22 Our Lord, we belong to you.
We tell you what worries us,
and you won't let us fall.
23 But what about those people
who are cruel and brutal?
You will throw them down
into the deepest pit
long before their time.
I trust you, Lord!
1 To him that excelleth on Neginoth. A Psalme of David to give instruction. Heare my prayer, O God, and hide not thy selfe from my supplication. 2 Hearken vnto me, and answere me: I mourne in my prayer, and make a noyse, 3 For the voyce of the enemie, and for the vexation of ye wicked, because they haue brought iniquitie vpon me, and furiously hate me. 4 Mine heart trembleth within mee, and the terrours of death are fallen vpon me. 5 Feare and trembling are come vpon mee, and an horrible feare hath couered me. 6 And I said, Oh that I had wings like a doue: then would I flie away and rest. 7 Beholde, I woulde take my flight farre off, and lodge in the wildernes. Selah. 8 Hee would make haste for my deliuerance from the stormie winde and tempest. 9 Destroy, O Lord, and deuide their tongues: for I haue seene crueltie and strife in the citie. 10 Day and night they goe about it vpon the walles thereof: both iniquitie and mischiefe are in the middes of it. 11 Wickednes is in the middes thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streetes. 12 Surely mine enemie did not defame mee: for I could haue borne it: neither did mine aduersarie exalt himselfe against mee: for I would haue hid me from him. 13 But it was thou, O man, euen my companion, my guide and my familiar: 14 Which delited in consulting together, and went into the House of God as companions. 15 Let death sense vpon them: let them goe downe quicke into the graue: for wickednes is in their dwellings, euen in the middes of them. 16 But I will call vnto God, and the Lord will saue me. 17 Euening and morning, and at noone will I pray, and make a noyse, and he wil heare my voice. 18 He hath deliuered my soule in peace from the battel, that was against me: for many were with me. 19 God shall heare and afflict them, euen hee that reigneth of olde, Selah. because they haue no changes, therefore they feare not God. 20 Hee layed his hande vpon such, as be at peace with him, and he brake his couenant. 21 The wordes of his mouth were softer then butter, yet warre was in his heart: his words were more gentle then oyle, yet they were swordes. 22 Cast thy burden vpon the Lord, and hee shall nourish thee: he wil not suffer the righteous to fall for euer. 23 And thou, O God, shalt bring them downe into the pitte of corruption: the bloudie, and deceitfull men shall not liue halfe their dayes: but I will trust in thee.