⁴ I feel great pain deep down inside me.
    The terrors of death have fallen on me.
⁵ Fear and trembling have taken hold of me.
    Panic has overpowered me.
⁶ I said, “I wish I had wings like a dove!
    Then I would fly away and be at rest.
⁷ I would escape to a place far away.
    I would stay out in the desert.
⁸ I would hurry to my place of safety.
    It would be far away from the winds and storms I’m facing.”

⁹ Lord, confuse the sinners and keep them from understanding one another.
    I see people destroying things and fighting in the city.
¹⁰ Day and night they prowl around on top of its walls.
    The city is full of crime and trouble.
¹¹ Forces that destroy are at work inside it.
    Its streets are full of people who cheat others and take advantage of them.

¹² If an enemy were making fun of me,
    I could stand it.
If he were getting ready to oppose me,
    I could hide.
¹³ But it’s you, someone like myself.
    It’s my companion, my close friend.
¹⁴ We used to enjoy good friendship at the house of God.
    We used to walk together among those who came to worship.

¹⁵ Let death take my enemies by surprise.
    Let them be buried alive,
    because their hearts and homes are full of evil.

¹⁶ But I call out to God.
    And the Lord saves me.
¹⁷ Evening, morning and noon
    I groan and cry out.
    And he hears my voice.
¹⁸ Even though many enemies are fighting against me,
    he brings me safely back from the battle.
¹⁹ God has been on his throne since ancient times and does not change.
    He will hear my enemies and make them humble.
    That’s because they have no respect for God.

²⁰ My companion attacks his friends.
    He breaks his promise.
²¹ His talk is as smooth as butter.
    But he has war in his heart.
His words flow like olive oil.
    But they are like swords ready for battle.

²² Turn your worries over to the Lord.
    He will keep you going.
    He will never let godly people be shaken.
²³ God, you will bring sinners
    down to the grave.
Murderers and liars
    won’t live out even half of their lives.

But I trust in you.