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.

9 I would haste me to a shelter

From the stormy wind and tempest.'

Selah

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;

Neither was it mine adversary that did magnify himself against me,

Then I would have hid myself from him. 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 netherworld;

For evil is in their dwelling, and within them.

17 As for me, I will call upon God;

And the LORD will save me.

18 Evening, and morning, and at noonday, 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,

Such as have no changes,

And fear not God.

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;

His words were softer than oil,

Yet were they keen-edged swords.

23 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He will sustain thee;

He will never suffer the righteous to be moved.

24 But Thou, O God, wilt bring them down into the nethermost pit;

Men of blood and deceit shall not live out half their days;

But as for me, I will trust in Thee.

Longing for God

A Psalm of David, when he was in the

63 wilderness of Judah.

2 O God, Thou art my God, earnestly will I seek Thee;

My soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee,

In a dry and weary land, where no water is. 3 So have I looked for Thee in the sanctuary, To see Thy power and Thy glory.

4 For Thy lovingkindness is better than life; My lips shall praise Thee.

5 So will I bless Thee as long as I live; In Thy name will I lift up my hands.

6 My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fat

ness;

And my mouth doth praise Thee with joyful lips;

7 When I remember Thee upon my couch, And meditate on Thee in the night-watches.

8 For Thou hast been my help,

And in the shadow of Thy wings do I rejoice.

9 My soul cleaveth unto Thee;

Thy right hand holdeth me fast.

10 But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, Shall go into the nethermost parts of the earth.

11 They shall be hurled to the power of the sword;

They shall be a portion for foxes. 12 But the king shall rejoice in God;

Every one that sweareth by Him shall glory; For the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.

The Universal God

For the Leader; with string-music. A

67 Psalm, a Song.

2 God be gracious unto us, and bless us; May He cause His face to shine toward us; Selah

3 That Thy way may be known upon earth, Thy salvation among all nations.

4 Let the peoples give thanks unto Thee, O God;

Let the peoples give thanks unto Thee, all of them.

5 O let the nations be glad and sing for joy; For Thou wilt judge the peoples with equity, And lead the nations upon earth.

Selah

6 Let the peoples give thanks unto Thee, O God;

Let the peoples give thanks unto Thee, all of them.

7 The earth hath yielded her increase;

May God, our own God, bless us.

8 May God bless us;

And let all the ends of the earth fear Him.

73

Consolation of the Good

A Psalm of Asaph.

Surely God is good to Israel,

Even to such as are pure in heart,

2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; My steps had well nigh slipped.

3 For I was envious at the arrogant,

When I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For there are no pangs at their death And their body is sound.

5 In the trouble of man they are not; Neither are they plagued like men.

6 Therefore pride is as a chain about their neck;

Violence covereth them as a garment.

7 Their eyes stand forth from fatness;

They are gone beyond the imaginations of their heart.

8 They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression;

They speak as if there were none on high. 9 They have set their mouth against the heavens,

And their tongue walketh through the earth. 10 Therefore His people return hither;

And waters of fulness are drained out by them.

11 And they say: 'How doth God know?

And is there knowledge in the Most High?' 12 Behold, such are the wicked;

And they that are always at ease increase riches.

13 Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart,