Cast Your Burden on the LORD

Verses 1–15 · anguish and the longing to escape

1. ^{verse 1}Listen to my prayer, O God, and do not ignore my plea.
2. ^{verse 2}Attend to me and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and distraught
3. ^{verse 3}at the voice of the enemy, at the pressure of the wicked. For they bring down disaster upon me and resent me in their anger.
4. ^{verse 4}My heart pounds within me, and the terrors of death assail me.
5. ^{verse 5}Fear and trembling grip me, and horror has overwhelmed me.
6. ^{verse 6}I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest.
7. ^{verse 7}How far away I would flee! In the wilderness I would remain. Selah
8. ^{verse 8}I would hurry to my shelter, far from this raging tempest.”
9. ^{verse 9}O Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city.
10. ^{verse 10}Day and night they encircle the walls, while malice and trouble lie within.
11. ^{verse 11}Destruction is within; oppression and deceit never leave the streets.
12. ^{verse 12}For it is not an enemy who insults me; that I could endure. It is not a foe who rises against me; from him I could hide.
13. ^{verse 13}But it is you, a man like myself, my companion and close friend.
14. ^{verse 14}We shared sweet fellowship together; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.
15. ^{verse 15}Let death seize them by surprise; let them go down to Sheol alive, for evil is with them in their homes.

Verses 16–23 · casting the burden on God who sustains

1. ^{verse 16}But I call to God, and the LORD saves me.
2. ^{verse 17}Morning, noon, and night, I cry out in distress, and He hears my voice.
3. ^{verse 18}He redeems my soul in peace from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me.
4. ^{verse 19}God will hear and humiliate them — the One enthroned for the ages — Selah because they do not change and they have no fear of God.
5. ^{verse 20}My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.
6. ^{verse 21}His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed.
7. ^{verse 22}Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.
8. ^{verse 23}But You, O God, will bring them down to the Pit of destruction; men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You.