Give ear, O God, unto my prayer

Verse 1

Give ear, O God, unto my prayer, Nor hide from my request.

Verse 2

Attend, and hear my mournful cry; I roar, I'm so distressed.

Verse 3

My foes reproach me, I'm oppressed, By a vile impious crew; Who load me with foul crimes, in wrath, And hatred, me pursue.

Verse 4

My heart within me's greatly pained; Death's terrors seize me fast;

Verse 5

Trembling and fear beset me round; Horror is o'er me cast.

Verse 6

"Oh! had I wings, like to a dove," (I said, while thus distressed,) "Then would I fly from hence away "And seek a place of rest:

Verse 7

"Far would I wander, and remain In some desert alone;

Verse 8

There swiftly 'scape, till furious winds, And tempests were o'er blown."

Verse 9

Confound, O Lord, their ill designs, Their plotting tongues divide; For violence, and raging strife, I've in the city spied.

Verse 10

These, day and night, upon the walls, Compass the city round; Mischief, and sorrow, sprung from thence, In midst thereof abound.

Verse 11

There, wickedness, in various shapes, An hearty welcome meets; There open fraud, and practiced guile, Depart not from her streets.

Verse 12

Had a known foe reproached me, This I could bear with ease; Should open haters me insult, I might have shunned these.

Verse 13

'Twas thou, perfidious man, my friend, My guide, mine intimate,

Verse 14

Sweet counsel took we, jointly went, And in God's house we sat.

Verse 15

Death shall seize on them unawares, And sink them quick to hell; For wickedness doth in their hearts, And in their houses, dwell.

Verse 16

But I will call on God; the Lord Will for my help appear.

Verse 17

At evening, morn, and noon, I'll pray, And he my voice will hear.

Verse 18

The battle was against me aimed, But he hath set me free; My soul in peace and safety dwells, For many joined with me.

Verse 19

God, who abides of old, shall hear, And smite them with his rod; Because they have no changes felt, Therefore they fear not God.

Verse 20

Against the man at peace with him His hands he did extend In wrath; and most profanely broke His covenant with his friend.

Verse 21

Smoother than butter was his speech, But war in his heart was found; His words were softer than the oil, Yet, like drawn swords, they wound.

Verse 22

Thy burden cast upon the Lord, Who will sustain his own; He'll never suffer righteous men, Though shook, to be o'erthrown.

Verse 23

God, to destruction's pit, shall bring Men of deceit and blood; They scarce shall live out half their days; But I will trust in God.