Read the Bible

¹ For the Leader; with string-music. Maschil of David.² Give ear, O God, to my prayer; and hide not Thyself from my supplication.³ Attend unto me, and hear me; I am distraught in my complaint, and will moan;⁴ Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked; for they cast mischief upon me, and in anger they persecute me.⁵ My heart doth writhe within me; and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.⁶ Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.⁷ And I said: 'Oh that I had wings like a dove! then would I fly away, and be at rest.⁸ Lo, then would I wander far off, I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah

⁹ I would haste me to a shelter from the stormy wind and tempest.'¹⁰ Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongue; for I have seen violence and strife in the city.¹¹ Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof; iniquity also and mischief are in the midst of it.¹² Wickedness is in the midst thereof; oppression and guile depart not from her broad place.¹³ For it was not an enemy that taunted me, then I could have borne it; ¹⁴ But it was thou, a man mine equal, my companion, and my familiar friend;¹⁵ We took sweet counsel together, in the house of God we walked with the throng.

¹⁶ May He incite death against them, let them go down alive into the nether-world; for evil is in their dwelling, and within them.¹⁷ As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.¹⁸ Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I complain, and moan; and He hath heard my voice.¹⁹ He hath redeemed my soul in peace so that none came nigh me; for they were many that strove with me.²⁰ God shall hear, and humble them, even He that is enthroned of old, Selah ²¹ He hath put forth his hands against them that were at peace with him; he hath profaned his covenant.²² Smoother than cream were the speeches of his mouth, but his heart was war; ²³ Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He will sustain thee;

²⁴ But Thou, O God, wilt bring them down into the nethermost pit; {N}but as for me, I will trust in Thee.