Psalms

Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.

1Listen to my prayer, God. Do not turn away when I beg you for help.

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

2Pay attention to me and answer me. My worries will not let me rest, and I groan out loud.

3Because 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.

3It is because of what my enemy says, and because wicked people press me down. They dump trouble on me, and their anger turns to hate.

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

4My heart aches inside me. The fear of dying has fallen on me.

5Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.

5Fear and shaking have taken hold of me. Horror has covered me over.

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

6I said, "I wish I had wings like a dove. Then I would fly away and find rest."

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

7I would go far, far away and stay out in the empty desert. Selah.

Note"Selah" is a Hebrew word left untranslated. It seems to be a musical or reading mark, perhaps a pause. No one knows for certain.

8I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.

8I would hurry to a safe place, away from this howling wind and storm.

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

9Lord, break their plans and mix up their speech so they cannot agree. I see violence and fighting in the city.

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

10Day and night these things prowl around the city walls. Trouble and sadness are inside it.

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

11Ruin is at the center of the city. Cheating and lies never leave its streets.

12For 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:

12It was not an enemy who insulted me. I could have put up with that. It was not someone who hates me, showing off against me. I could have hidden from him.

13But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.

13But it was you. You were a man like me, my companion and my close friend.

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

14We used to talk together as friends. We walked with the crowd into God's house.

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

15Let death catch up with them. Let them go down alive to the place of the dead. Evil lives in their homes and among them.

NoteThe KJV says "go down quick into hell." Here "quick" is the old English word for "alive," not "fast." The word behind "hell" is Sheol, the place of the dead, not a place of punishment.

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

16But I will call out to God, and the LORD will save me.

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

17Evening, morning, and noon I will pray and cry out loud. And he will hear my voice.

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

18He has brought me out of the battle safely, unharmed, even though many were fighting against me.

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

19God will hear and will bring them low. He has been on his throne from ancient times. Selah. They never change their ways, so they have no respect for God.

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

20My friend has attacked the people who were at peace with him. He has broken his promise.

21The 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.

21His words were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart. His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.

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

22Hand your heavy load to the LORD, and he will hold you up. He will never let good people be shaken down.

NoteThe KJV says God will not "suffer" the righteous to be moved. In 1611 "suffer" meant "allow."

23But 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.

23But you, God, will bring those people down into the pit of ruin. Murderers and liars will not live half a normal life. But I will trust in you.