Read the Bible

¹ Listen, God, to my prayer!
    Don't reject my request.
²     Please listen and help me.
My thoughts are troubled,
    and I keep groaning
³     because my loud enemies
    shout and attack.
They treat me terribly
    and hold angry grudges.
⁴ My heart is racing fast,
    and I am afraid of dying.
⁵     I am trembling with fear,
    completely terrified.

⁶ I wish I had wings
    like a dove,
    so I could fly far away
    and be at peace.
⁷ I would go and live
    in some distant desert.
⁸ I would quickly find shelter
    from howling winds
    and raging storms.

⁹ Confuse my enemies, Lord!
    Upset their plans.
Cruelty and violence
    are all I see in the city,
¹⁰     and they are like guards
    on patrol day and night.
The city is full of trouble,
    evil, ¹¹ and corruption.
    Troublemakers and liars
    freely roam the streets.

¹² My enemies are not the ones
    who sneer and make fun.
    I could put up with that
    or even hide from them.
¹³ But it was my closest friend,
    the one I trusted most.
¹⁴ We enjoyed being together,
    and we went with others
    to your house, our God.

¹⁵ All who hate me are controlled
    by the power of evil.
Sentence them to death
    and send them down alive
    to the world of the dead.

¹⁶ I ask for your help, Lord God,
    and you will keep me safe.
¹⁷ Morning, noon, and night
    you hear my concerns
    and my complaints.
¹⁸ I am attacked from all sides,
    but you will rescue me
    unharmed by the battle.
¹⁹ You have always ruled,
    and you will hear me.
You will defeat my enemies
    because they won't turn
    and worship you.

²⁰ My friend turned against me
    and broke his promise.
²¹ His words were smoother
than butter,
    and softer
    than olive oil.
But hatred filled his heart,
    and he was ready to attack
    with a sword.

²² Our Lord, we belong to you.
We tell you what worries us,
    and you won't let us fall.
²³ But what about those people
    who are cruel and brutal?
You will throw them down
    into the deepest pit
long before their time.
    I trust you, Lord!