⁴ O my God, take me out of the hand of the sinner, out of the hand of the evil and cruel man.

²¹ And Ahithophel said to Absalom, Go in to your father's women who are here looking after his house; then all Israel will have the news that you are hated by your father, and the hands of your supporters will be strong.

²² So they put up the tent for Absalom on the top of the house, and Absalom went in to his father's women before the eyes of all Israel.

¹ Then Ahithophel said to Absalom, Let me take out twelve thousand men and this very night I will go after David:

² And I will come up with him when he is tired and feeble, and make him full of fear: and all the people with him will go in flight; and I will make an attack on the king only:

¹² Then we will come on him in some place, wherever he may be, falling on him as the dew comes on the earth: and of him and all the men who are with him not one will get away with his life.

¹³ And if he has gone into some town, then let all Israel take strong cords to that town, and we will have it pulled into the valley, till not one small stone is to be seen there.

¹⁴ Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, Hushai's suggestion is better than that of Ahithophel. For it was the purpose of the Lord to make the wise designs of Ahithophel without effect, so that the Lord might send evil on Absalom.

²¹ Then after the servants had gone away, they came up out of the water-hole and went to give King David the news; and they said, Get up and go quickly over the water, for such and such are Ahithophel's designs against you.

⁸ Keep me as the light of your eyes, covering me with the shade of your wings,

⁹ From the evil-doers who are violent to me, and from those who are round me, desiring my death.

¹³ Up! Lord, come out against him, make him low, with your sword be my saviour from the evil-doer.

¹ <To the chief music-maker; put to At-tashheth. Michtam. Of David. When Saul sent, and they were watching the house, to put him to death.> Take me out of the hands of the cruel ones, O my God; keep me safe from those who come up against me.

² Take me out of the power of the workers of evil, and keep me safe from the men of blood.

¹ <To the chief music-maker. A Psalm. Of David.> O Lord, take me out of the power of the evil man; keep me safe from the violent man:

² For their hearts are full of evil designs; and they are ever making ready causes of war.

³ Their tongues are sharp like the tongue of a snake; the poison of snakes is under their lips. (Selah.)

⁴ O Lord, take me out of the hands of sinners; keep me safe from the violent man: for they are designing my downfall.