His troops advance together; they throw up a siege ramp against me, and they camp around my tent.

The kings of the earth form a united front; the rulers collaborate against the Lord and his anointed king.

May those who are trying to snatch away my life be totally embarrassed and ashamed! May those who want to harm me be turned back and ashamed!

All who hate me whisper insults about me to one another; they plan ways to harm me.

Pay attention, all you people, both rich and poor!

Surely one sees that even wise people die; fools and spiritually insensitive people all pass away and leave their wealth to others.

They say to themselves, “We will oppress all of them.” They burn down all the places where people worship God in the land.

O Lord, teach me how you want me to live! Then I will obey your commands. Make me wholeheartedly committed to you!

A song of ascents, by David. Look! How good and how pleasant it is when brothers live together!

All your leaders ran away together – they fled to a distant place; all your refugees were captured together – they were captured without a single arrow being shot.

I am not angry. I wish I could confront some thorns and briers! Then I would march against them for battle; I would set them all on fire,

“I have been inactive for a long time; I kept quiet and held back. Like a woman in labor I groan; I pant and gasp.

The one who vindicates me is close by. Who dares to argue with me? Let us confront each other! Who is my accuser? Let him challenge me!

My people are obsessed with turning away from me; they call to Baal, but he will never exalt them!

Then the Philistine said, “I defy Israel’s troops this day! Give me a man so we can fight each other!”

Yes! The king may listen and deliver his female servant from the hand of the man who seeks to remove both me and my son from the inheritance God has given us!’

But if God is quiet, who can condemn him? If he hides his face, then who can see him? Yet he is over the individual and the nation alike,

For I hear what so many are saying, the terrifying news that comes from every direction. When they plot together against me, they figure out how they can take my life.

Men are nothing but a mere breath; human beings are unreliable. When they are weighed in the scales, all of them together are lighter than air.

Look, all his associates will be put to shame; the craftsmen are mere humans. Let them all assemble and take their stand! They will panic and be put to shame.