HEAR my prayer, O God, * and hide not thyself from my petition.
 
Take heed unto me, and hear me, * how I mourn in my prayer, and am vexed;
 
The enemy crieth so, and the ungodly cometh on so fast; * for they are minded to do me some mischief, so maliciously are they set against me.
 
My heart is disquieted within me, * and the fear of death is fallen upon me.
 
Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, * and an horrible dread hath overwhelmed me.
 
And I said, O that I had wings like a dove! * for then would I flee away, and be at rest.
 
Lo, then would I get me away far off, * and remain in the wilderness.
 
I would make haste to escape, * because of the stormy wind and tempest.
 
Destroy their tongues, O Lord, and divide them; * for I have spied unrighteousness and strife in the city.
 
Day and night they go about within the walls thereof: * mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.
 
Wickedness is therein; * deceit and guile go not out of her streets.
 
For it is not an open enemy that hath done me this dishonour; * for then I could have borne it;
 
Neither was it mine adversary that did magnify himself against me; * for then peradventure I would have hid myself from him;
 
But it was even thou, my companion, * my guide, and mine own familiar friend.
 
We took sweet counsel together, * and walked in the house of God as friends.
 
Let death come hastily upon them, and let them go down alive into the pit; * for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.
 
As for me, I will call upon God, * and the LORD shall save me.
 
In the evening, and morning, and at noon-day will I pray, and that instantly; * and he shall hear my voice.
 
It is he that hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me; * for there were many that strove with me.
 
Yea, even God, that endureth for ever, shall hear me, and bring them down; * for they will not turn, nor fear God.
 
He laid his hands upon such as be at peace with him, * and he brake his covenant.
 
The words of his mouth were softer than butter, having war in his heart; * his words were smoother than oil, and yet be they very swords.
 
O cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall nourish thee, * and shall not suffer the righteous to fall for ever.
 
And as for them, * thou, O God, shalt bring them into the pit of destruction.
 
The blood-thirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days: * nevertheless, my trust shall be in thee, O Lord.

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