#dailybread

[1] Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy! [2] Attend to me, and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and I moan, [3] because of the noise of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they drop trouble upon me, and in anger they bear a grudge against me. [4] My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen upon me. [5] Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me. [6] And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest; [7] yes, I would wander far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah [8] I would hurry to find a shelter from the raging wind and tempest.” [9] Destroy, O Lord, divide their tongues; for I see violence and strife in the city. [10] Day and night they go around it on its walls, and iniquity and trouble are within it; [11] ruin is in its midst; oppression and fraud do not depart from its marketplace. [12] For it is not an enemy who taunts me— then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me— then I could hide from him. [13] But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. [14] We used to take sweet counsel together; within God’s house we walked in the throng. [15] Let death steal over them; let them go down to Sheol alive; for evil is in their dwelling place and in their heart. [16] But I call to God, and the Lord will save me. [17] Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice. [18] He redeems my soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against me. [19] God will give ear and humble them, he who is enthroned from of old, Selah because they do not change and do not fear God. [20] My companion stretched out his hand against his friends; he violated his covenant. [21] His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords. [22] Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. [23] But you, O God, will cast them down into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in you.