For the one who conducts, with music, a Maskil of David.1Give ear, O God, to my prayer, and do not hide yourself from my supplication.2Attend to me and answer me; I roam about in my complaint and I make a noise.3Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the pressure of the wicked—for they bring down evil upon me, and in anger they hate me.4My heart trembles within me, and the terrors of death have fallen upon me.5Fear and trembling come upon me, and shuddering covers me.6And I said, "Who will give me a wing like a dove, that I may fly away and dwell?"7Behold, I would remove far away to wander; I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah.8I hasten my escape from the rushing wind, from the tempest.9Swallow them up, O Lord; divide their tongues, for I have seen violence and strife in the city.10Day and night they go around her walls, and evil and trouble are within her.11Desire is within her, and oppression and deceit do not depart from her streets.12For it is not an enemy who taunts me—nor one who hates me who has magnified himself against me—from whom I would hide.13But you are a man of my own rank, my close companion, and my familiar friend,14with whom we once took sweet counsel together in the house of God as we walked in the throng.15Let desolation come upon them; let death fall on them; let them go down alive to Sheol, for evils are in their dwelling place, in their midst.16As for me, I call to God, and the LORD saves me.17Evening and morning and at noon I complain and moan, and he hears my voice.18He redeems my soul in peace from the battle that is against me, for many are arrayed against me.19God hears and afflicts them—the one who has dwelt from of old. Selah. They have no changes, and they do not fear God.20He has stretched out his hands against his allies; he has broken his covenant.21His speech was smoother than butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.22Cast your burden upon the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be shaken.23But you, O God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction; bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days, but I will trust in you.