9Confuse the wicked, O Lord, confound their speech,

for I see violence and strife in the city.

10Day and night they prowl about on its walls;

malice and abuse are within it.

11Destructive forces are at work in the city;

threats and lies never leave its streets.

12If an enemy were insulting me,

I could endure it;

if a foe were raising himself against me,

I could hide from him.

13But it is you, a man like myself,

my companion, my close friend,

14with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship

as we walked with the throng at the house of God.

15Let death take my enemies by surprise;

let them go down alive to the grave,^b

for evil finds lodging among them.

16But I call to God,

and the Lord saves me.

17Evening, morning and noon

I cry out in distress,

and he hears my voice.

18He ransoms me unharmed

from the battle waged against me,

even though many oppose me.

19God, who is enthroned forever,

will hear them and afflict them—       Selah

men who never change their ways

and have no fear of God.

20My companion attacks his friends;

he violates his covenant.

21His speech is smooth as butter,

yet war is in his heart;

his words are more soothing than oil,

yet they are drawn swords.

22Cast your cares on the Lord

and he will sustain you;

he will never let the righteous fall.

23But you, O God, will bring down the wicked

into the pit of corruption;

bloodthirsty and deceitful men

will not live out half their days.

But as for me, I trust in you.