^{1 Ref} To the Overseer with stringed instruments. -- An instruction, by David. Give ear, O God, `to' my prayer, And hide not from my supplication.

^{2 Ref} Attend to me, and answer me, I mourn in my meditation, and make a noise,

^{3 Ref} Because of the voice of an enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked, For they cause sorrow to move against me, And in anger they hate me.

^{4 Ref} My heart is pained within me, And terrors of death have fallen on me.

^{5 Ref} Fear and trembling come in to me, And horror doth cover me.

^{6 Ref} And I say, `Who doth give to me a pinion as a dove? I fly away and rest,

^{7 Ref} Lo, I move far off, I lodge in a wilderness. Selah.

^{8 Ref} I hasten escape for myself, From a rushing wind, from a whirlwind.

^{9 Ref} Swallow up, O Lord, divide their tongue, For I saw violence and strife in a city.

^{10 Ref} By day and by night they go round it, on its walls. Both iniquity and perverseness `are' in its midst,

^{11 Ref} Mischiefs `are' in its midst. Fraud and deceit depart not from its street.

^{12 Ref} For an enemy reproacheth me not, or I bear `it', He who is hating me Hath not magnified himself against me, Or I hide from him.

^{13 Ref} But thou, a man -- as mine equal, My familiar friend, and mine acquaintance.

^{14 Ref} When together we sweeten counsel, Into the house of God we walk in company.

^{15 Ref} Desolations `are' upon them, They go down `to' Sheol -- alive, For wickedness `is' in their dwelling, in their midst.

^{16 Ref} I -- to God I call, and Jehovah saveth me.

^{17 Ref} Evening, and morning, and noon, I meditate, and make a noise, and He heareth my voice,

^{18 Ref} He hath ransomed in peace my soul From him who is near to me, For with the multitude they were with me.

^{19 Ref} God doth hear and afflict them, And He sitteth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, and fear not God,

^{20 Ref} He hath sent forth his hands against his well-wishers, He hath polluted his covenant.

^{21 Ref} Sweeter than honey hath been his mouth, And his heart `is' war! Softer have been his words than oil, And they `are' drawn `swords'.

^{22 Ref} Cast on Jehovah that which He hath given thee, And He doth sustain thee, He doth not suffer for ever the moving of the righteous.

^{23 Ref} And Thou, O God, dost bring them down To a pit of destruction, Men of blood and deceit reach not to half their days, And I -- I do trust in Thee!

^{1 Ref} Give ear to my prayer, O God; And hide not thyself from my supplication.

^{2 Ref} Attend unto me, and answer me: I am restless in my complaint, and moan,

^{3 Ref} Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked; For they cast iniquity upon me, And in anger they persecute me.

^{4 Ref} My heart is sore pained within me: And the terrors of death are fallen upon me.

^{5 Ref} Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, And horror hath overwhelmed me.

^{6 Ref} And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then would I fly away, and be at rest.

^{7 Ref} Lo, then would I wander far off, I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah

^{8 Ref} I would haste me to a shelter From the stormy wind and tempest.

^{9 Ref} Destroy, O Lord, `and' divide their tongue; For I have seen violence and strife in the city.

^{10 Ref} Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: Iniquity also and mischief are in the midst of it.

^{11 Ref} Wickedness is in the midst thereof: Oppression and guile depart not from its streets.

^{12 Ref} For it was not an enemy that reproached me; Then I could have borne it: Neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; Then I would have hid myself from him:

^{13 Ref} But it was thou, a man mine equal, My companion, and my familiar friend.

^{14 Ref} We took sweet counsel together; We walked in the house of God with the throng.

^{15 Ref} Let death come suddenly upon them, Let them go down alive into Sheol; For wickedness is in their dwelling, in the midst of them.

^{16 Ref} As for me, I will call upon God; And Jehovah will save me.

^{17 Ref} Evening, and morning, and at noonday, will I complain, and moan; And he will hear my voice.

^{18 Ref} He hath redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me; For they were many `that strove' with me.

^{19 Ref} God will hear, and answer them, Even he that abideth of old, Selah `The men' who have no changes, And who fear not God.

^{20 Ref} He hath put forth his hands against such as were at peace with him: He hath profaned his covenant.

^{21 Ref} His mouth was smooth as butter, But his heart was war: His words were softer than oil, Yet were they drawn swords.

^{22 Ref} Cast thy burden upon Jehovah, and he will sustain thee: He will never suffer the righteous to be moved.

^{23 Ref} But thou, O God, wilt bring them down into the pit of destruction: Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; But I will trust in thee. Psalm 56 For the Chief Musician; set to Jonath elem rehokim. `A Psalm' of David. Michtam: when the Philistines took him in Gath.

^{1 Ref} Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.

^{2 Ref} Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;

^{3 Ref} Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.

^{4 Ref} My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.

^{5 Ref} Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.

^{6 Ref} And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.

^{7 Ref} Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.

^{8 Ref} I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.

^{9 Ref} Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

^{10 Ref} Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.

^{11 Ref} Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.

^{12 Ref} For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:

^{13 Ref} But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.

^{14 Ref} We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.

^{15 Ref} Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.

^{16 Ref} As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.

^{17 Ref} Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

^{18 Ref} He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.

^{19 Ref} God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.

^{20 Ref} He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.

^{21 Ref} The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.

^{22 Ref} Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

^{23 Ref} But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.