Daniel 1-3; Psalms 55 - Prayer Tents

Daniel in Nebuchadnezzar’s Court

1During the third year of King Jehoiakim’s reign in Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.H7969H8141H4438H3079H4428H3063H935H5019H4428H894H3389H6696 2The Lord gave him victory over King Jehoiakim of Judah and permitted him to take some of the sacred objects from the Temple of God. So Nebuchadnezzar took them back to the land of Babylonia and placed them in the treasure-house of his god.H136H5414H3079H4428H3063H3027H7117H3627H1004H430H935H776H8152H1004H430H935H3627H214H1004H430 3Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief of staff, to bring to the palace some of the young men of Judah’s royal family and other noble families, who had been brought to Babylon as captives.H4428H559H828H7227H5631H935H1121H3478H4410H2233H6579 4“Select only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men,” he said. “Make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are suited to serve in the royal palace. Train these young men in the language and literature of Babylon.”H3206H3971H3971H2896H4758H7919H2451H3045H1847H995H4093H3581H5975H4428H1964H3925H5612H3956H3778 5The king assigned them a daily ration of food and wine from his own kitchens. They were to be trained for three years, and then they would enter the royal service.H4428H4487H3117H3117H1697H4428H6598H3196H4960H1431H7969H8141H7117H5975H6440H4428 6Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were four of the young men chosen, all from the tribe of Judah.H1121H3063H1840H2608H4332H5838 7The chief of staff renamed them with these Babylonian names: Daniel was called Belteshazzar. Hananiah was called Shadrach. Mishael was called Meshach. Azariah was called Abednego.H8269H5631H7760H8034H7760H1840H1095H2608H7714H4332H4335H5838H5664 8But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods.H1840H7760H3820H1351H6598H4428H6598H3196H4960H1245H8269H5631H1351 9Now God had given the chief of staff both respect and affection for Daniel.H430H5414H1840H2617H7356H6440H8269H5631 10But he responded, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has ordered that you eat this food and wine. If you become pale and thin compared to the other youths your age, I am afraid the king will have me beheaded.”H8269H5631H559H1840H3373H113H4428H4487H3978H4960H7200H6440H2196H3206H1524H2325H7218H4428 11Daniel spoke with the attendant who had been appointed by the chief of staff to look after Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.H559H1840H4453H8269H5631H4487H1840H2608H4332H5838 12“Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water,” Daniel said.H5254H5650H6235H3117H5414H2235H398H4325H8354 13“At the end of the ten days, see how we look compared to the other young men who are eating the king’s food. Then make your decision in light of what you see.”H4758H7200H6440H4758H3206H398H6598H4428H6598H7200H6213H5650 14The attendant agreed to Daniel’s suggestion and tested them for ten days.H8085H1697H5254H6235H3117 15At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king.H7117H6235H3117H4758H7200H2896H1277H1320H3206H398H6598H4428H6598 16So after that, the attendant fed them only vegetables instead of the food and wine provided for the others.H4453H5375H6598H3196H4960H5414H2235 17God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams.H702H3206H430H5414H4093H7919H5612H2451H1840H995H2377H2472 18When the training period ordered by the king was completed, the chief of staff brought all the young men to King Nebuchadnezzar.H7117H3117H4428H559H935H8269H5631H935H6440H5019 19The king talked with them, and no one impressed him as much as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they entered the royal service.H4428H1696H4672H1840H2608H4332H5838H5975H6440H4428 20Whenever the king consulted them in any matter requiring wisdom and balanced judgment, he found them ten times more capable than any of the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom.H1697H2451H998H4428H1245H4672H6235H3027H2748H825H4438 21Daniel remained in the royal service until the first year of the reign of King Cyrus.H1840H259H8141H4428H3566

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

2One night during the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had such disturbing dreams that he couldn’t sleep.H8147H8141H4438H5019H5019H2492H2472H7307H6470H8142H1961 2He called in his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers, and he demanded that they tell him what he had dreamed. As they stood before the king,H4428H559H7121H2748H825H3784H3778H5046H4428H2472H935H5975H6440H4428 3he said, “I have had a dream that deeply troubles me, and I must know what it means.”H4428H559H2492H2472H7307H6470H3045H2472 4Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic, “Long live the king! Tell us the dream, and we will tell you what it means.”H1696H3778H4428H762H4430H2418H5957H560H5649H2493H2324H6591 5But the king said to the astrologers, “I am serious about this. If you don’t tell me what my dream was and what it means, you will be torn limb from limb, and your houses will be turned into heaps of rubble!H4430H6032H560H3779H4406H230H4481H2006H3809H3046H2493H6591H5648H1917H1005H7761H5122 6But if you tell me what I dreamed and what the dream means, I will give you many wonderful gifts and honors. Just tell me the dream and what it means!”H2006H2324H2493H6591H6902H4481H6925H4978H5023H7690H3367H3861H2324H2493H6591 7They said again, “Please, Your Majesty. Tell us the dream, and we will tell you what it means.”H6032H8579H560H4430H560H5649H2493H2324H6591 8The king replied, “I know what you are doing! You’re stalling for time because you know I am serious when I say,H4430H6032H560H576H3046H4481H3330H608H2084H5732H6903H3606H2370H4406H230H4481 9‘If you don’t tell me the dream, you are doomed.’ So you have conspired to tell me lies, hoping I will change my mind. But tell me the dream, and then I’ll know that you can tell me what it means.”H2006H3809H3046H2493H1932H2298H1882H2164H3538H7844H4406H560H6925H5705H5732H8133H3861H560H2493H3046H1768H2324H6591 10The astrologers replied to the king, “No one on earth can tell the king his dream! And no king, however great and powerful, has ever asked such a thing of any magician, enchanter, or astrologer!H3779H6032H6925H4430H560H383H3809H606H5922H3007H3202H2324H4430H4406H6903H1768H3809H4430H7229H7990H7593H1836H4406H3606H2749H826H3779 11The king’s demand is impossible. No one except the gods can tell you your dream, and they do not live here among people.”H3358H4406H4430H7593H383H3809H321H2324H6925H4430H3861H426H4070H383H3809H5974H1321 12The king was furious when he heard this, and he ordered that all the wise men of Babylon be executed.H6903H1836H3606H4430H1149H7690H7108H560H7H3606H2445H895 13And because of the king’s decree, men were sent to find and kill Daniel and his friends.H1882H5312H2445H6992H1156H1841H2269H6992 14When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, came to kill them, Daniel handled the situation with wisdom and discretion.H116H1841H8421H5843H2942H746H7229H1768H4430H2877H5312H6992H2445H895 15He asked Arioch, “Why has the king issued such a harsh decree?” So Arioch told him all that had happened.H6032H560H746H4430H7990H4101H5922H1882H2685H4481H6925H4430H116H746H4406H3046H1841 16Daniel went at once to see the king and requested more time to tell the king what the dream meant.H1841H5954H1156H4481H4430H5415H2166H2324H4430H6591 17Then Daniel went home and told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah what had happened.H116H1841H236H1005H4406H3046H2608H4333H5839H2269 18He urged them to ask the God of heaven to show them his mercy by telling them the secret, so they would not be executed along with the other wise men of Babylon.H1156H7359H4481H6925H426H8065H5922H1836H7328H1841H2269H3809H7H5974H7606H2445H895 19That night the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven.H116H7328H1541H1841H3916H2376H116H1841H1289H426H8065 20He said, “Praise the name of God forever and ever, for he has all wisdom and power.H1841H6032H560H1289H1934H8036H426H4481H5957H5705H5957H2452H1370H1932 21He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars.H8133H5732H2166H5709H4430H6966H4430H3052H2452H2445H4486H3046H999 22He reveals deep and mysterious things and knows what lies hidden in darkness, though he is surrounded by light.H1541H5994H5642H3046H4101H2816H5094H8271H5974 23I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors, for you have given me wisdom and strength. You have told me what we asked of you and revealed to us what the king demanded.”H576H3029H7624H426H2H3052H2452H1370H3046H3705H1156H4481H3046H4430H4406

Daniel Interprets the Dream

24Then Daniel went in to see Arioch, whom the king had ordered to execute the wise men of Babylon. Daniel said to him, “Don’t kill the wise men. Take me to the king, and I will tell him the meaning of his dream.”H3606H6903H1836H1841H5954H5922H746H4430H4483H7H2445H895H236H560H3652H7H409H2445H895H5954H6925H4430H2324H4430H6591 25Arioch quickly took Daniel to the king and said, “I have found one of the captives from Judah who will tell the king the meaning of his dream!”H116H746H5954H1841H6925H4430H927H560H3652H7912H1400H1123H1547H4481H3061H3046H4430H6591 26The king said to Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar), “Is this true? Can you tell me what my dream was and what it means?”H4430H6032H560H1841H8036H1096H383H3546H3046H2493H2370H6591 27Daniel replied, “There are no wise men, enchanters, magicians, or fortune-tellers who can reveal the king’s secret.H1841H6032H6925H4430H560H7328H4430H7593H3202H3809H2445H826H2749H1505H2324H4430 28But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the future. Now I will tell you your dream and the visions you saw as you lay on your bed.H1297H383H426H8065H1541H7328H3046H4430H5020H4101H1934H320H3118H2493H2376H7217H5922H4903H1836 29“While Your Majesty was sleeping, you dreamed about coming events. He who reveals secrets has shown you what is going to happen.H607H4430H7476H5559H5922H4903H4101H1934H311H1836H1541H7328H3046H4101H1934 30And it is not because I am wiser than anyone else that I know the secret of your dream, but because God wants you to understand what was in your heart.H576H1836H7328H3809H1541H2452H383H4481H3606H2417H3861H1701H5922H3046H6591H4430H3046H7476H3825 31“In your vision, Your Majesty, you saw standing before you a huge, shining statue of a man. It was a frightening sight.H607H4430H1934H2370H431H2298H7690H6755H1797H7229H6755H2122H3493H6966H6903H7299H1763 32The head of the statue was made of fine gold. Its chest and arms were silver, its belly and thighs were bronze,H6755H7217H2869H1722H2306H1872H3702H4577H3410H5174 33its legs were iron, and its feet were a combination of iron and baked clay.H8243H6523H7271H4481H6523H4481H2635 34As you watched, a rock was cut from a mountain, but not by human hands. It struck the feet of iron and clay, smashing them to bits.H2370H1934H5705H69H1505H3809H3028H4223H6755H5922H7271H6523H2635H1855H1994H1855 35The whole statue was crushed into small pieces of iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold. Then the wind blew them away without a trace, like chaff on a threshing floor. But the rock that knocked the statue down became a great mountain that covered the whole earth.H116H6523H2635H5174H3702H1722H1855H1751H2298H1934H5784H4481H7007H147H7308H5376H1994H5376H3606H3809H870H7912H69H4223H6755H1934H7229H2906H4391H3606H772 36“That was the dream. Now we will tell the king what it means.H1836H2493H560H6591H6925H4430 37Your Majesty, you are the greatest of kings. The God of heaven has given you sovereignty, power, strength, and honor.H607H4430H4430H4430H426H8065H3052H4437H2632H8632H3367 38He has made you the ruler over all the inhabited world and has put even the wild animals and birds under your control. You are the head of gold.H3606H1123H606H1753H2423H1251H5776H8065H3052H3028H7981H3606H607H7217H1722 39“But after your kingdom comes to an end, another kingdom, inferior to yours, will rise to take your place. After that kingdom has fallen, yet a third kingdom, represented by bronze, will rise to rule the world.H870H6966H317H4437H772H4481H317H8523H4437H5174H7981H3606H772 40Following that kingdom, there will be a fourth one, as strong as iron. That kingdom will smash and crush all previous empires, just as iron smashes and crushes everything it strikes.H7244H4437H1934H8624H6523H6523H1855H2827H3606H6903H6523H7490H3606H459H1855H7490 41The feet and toes you saw were a combination of iron and baked clay, showing that this kingdom will be divided. Like iron mixed with clay, it will have some of the strength of iron.H2370H7271H677H4481H6353H2635H4481H6523H4437H1934H6386H4481H1934H4481H5326H6523H3606H6903H2370H6523H6151H2917H2635 42But while some parts of it will be as strong as iron, other parts will be as weak as clay.H677H7271H4481H6523H4481H2635H4437H1934H4481H7118H8624H4481H7118H8406 43This mixture of iron and clay also shows that these kingdoms will try to strengthen themselves by forming alliances with each other through intermarriage. But they will not hold together, just as iron and clay do not mix.H1768H2370H6523H6151H2917H2635H1934H6151H2234H606H1934H3809H1693H1836H5974H1836H1888H6523H3809H6151H2635 44“During the reigns of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed or conquered. It will crush all these kingdoms into nothingness, and it will stand forever.H3118H581H4430H426H8065H6966H4437H5957H3809H2255H4437H3809H7662H321H5972H1855H5487H3606H459H4437H1932H6966H5957 45That is the meaning of the rock cut from the mountain, though not by human hands, that crushed to pieces the statue of iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold. The great God was showing the king what will happen in the future. The dream is true, and its meaning is certain.”H3606H6903H2370H69H1505H2906H3809H3028H1855H6523H5174H2635H3702H1722H7229H426H3046H4430H4101H1934H311H1836H2493H3330H6591H540

Nebuchadnezzar Rewards Daniel

46Then King Nebuchadnezzar threw himself down before Daniel and worshiped him, and he commanded his people to offer sacrifices and burn sweet incense before him.H116H4430H5020H5308H5922H600H5457H1841H560H5260H4504H5208 47The king said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is the greatest of gods, the Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this secret.”H4430H6032H1841H560H4481H7187H1768H426H426H426H4756H4430H1541H7328H3202H1541H1836H7328 48Then the king appointed Daniel to a high position and gave him many valuable gifts. He made Daniel ruler over the whole province of Babylon, as well as chief over all his wise men.H116H4430H7236H1841H7236H3052H7690H7260H4978H7981H5922H3606H4083H895H7229H5460H5922H3606H2445H895 49At Daniel’s request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be in charge of all the affairs of the province of Babylon, while Daniel remained in the king’s court.H1841H1156H4481H4430H4483H7715H4336H5665H5922H5673H4083H895H1841H8651H4430

Nebuchadnezzar’s Gold Statue

3King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue ninety feet tall and nine feet wide and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.H5020H4430H5648H6755H1722H7314H8361H521H6613H8353H521H6966H1236H1757H4083H895 2Then he sent messages to the high officers, officials, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the provincial officials to come to the dedication of the statue he had set up.H5020H4430H7972H3673H324H5460H6347H148H1411H1884H8614H3606H7984H4083H858H2597H6755H5020H4430H6966 3So all these officials came and stood before the statue King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.H116H324H5460H6347H148H1411H1884H8614H3606H7984H4083H3673H2597H6755H5020H4430H6966H6966H6903H6755H5020H6966 4Then a herald shouted out, “People of all races and nations and languages, listen to the king’s command!H3744H7123H2429H560H5972H524H3961 5When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments, bow to the ground to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s gold statue.H5732H8086H7032H7162H4953H7030H7030H5443H6460H5481H3606H2178H2170H5308H5457H1722H6755H5020H4430H6966 6Anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”H4479H5308H3809H5308H5457H8160H7412H1459H3345H5135H861 7So at the sound of the musical instruments, all the people, whatever their race or nation or language, bowed to the ground and worshiped the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.H6903H1836H2166H1768H3606H5972H8086H7032H7162H4953H7030H7030H5443H6460H3606H2178H2170H3606H5972H524H3961H5308H5457H1722H6755H5020H4430H6966 8But some of the astrologers went to the king and informed on the Jews.H6903H3606H1836H2166H1400H3779H7127H7170H399H3062 9They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “Long live the king!H6032H560H4430H5020H4430H2418H5957 10You issued a decree requiring all the people to bow down and worship the gold statue when they hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments.H607H4430H7761H2942H3606H606H8086H7032H7162H4953H7030H7030H5443H6460H5481H5481H3606H2178H2170H5308H5457H1722H6755 11That decree also states that those who refuse to obey must be thrown into a blazing furnace.H4479H5308H3809H5308H5457H7412H1459H3345H5135H861 12But there are some Jews—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—whom you have put in charge of the province of Babylon. They pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They refuse to serve your gods and do not worship the gold statue you have set up.”H383H1400H3062H3487H4483H5922H5673H4083H895H7715H4336H5665H479H1400H4430H7761H3809H2942H5922H6399H3809H426H3809H5457H1722H6755H6966 13Then Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and ordered that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought before him. When they were brought in,H116H5020H7266H2528H560H858H7715H4336H5665H116H858H479H1400H6925H4430 14Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up?H5020H6032H560H6656H7715H4336H5665H3809H383H6399H426H3809H5457H1722H6755H6966 15I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?”H3705H2006H383H6263H5732H8086H7032H7162H4953H7030H7030H5443H6460H5481H3606H2178H2170H5308H5457H6755H5648H2006H5457H3809H7412H8160H1459H3345H5135H861H4479H426H7804H4481H3028 16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you.H7715H4336H5665H6032H560H4430H5020H586H3809H2818H8421H5922H1836H6600 17If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty.H2006H426H586H6399H383H3202H7804H4481H3345H5135H861H4481H7804H4481H3028H4430 18But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”H2006H3809H1934H3046H4430H383H3809H6399H426H3809H5457H1722H6755H6966

The Blazing Furnace

19Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face became distorted with rage. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual.H116H5020H4391H2528H6755H600H8133H5922H7715H4336H5665H6032H560H228H861H2298H7655H5922H1768H2370H228 20Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.H560H2429H1401H1400H2429H3729H7715H4336H5665H7412H3345H5135H861 21So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fully dressed in their pants, turbans, robes, and other garments.H116H479H1400H3729H5622H6361H6361H3737H3831H7412H1459H3345H5135H861 22And because the king, in his anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in.H3606H6903H4481H1836H4430H4406H2685H861H3493H228H7631H5135H6992H479H1400H1994H5267H7715H4336H5665 23So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell into the roaring flames.H479H8532H1400H7715H4336H5665H5308H3729H1459H3345H5135H861 24But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, “Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?” “Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did,” they replied.H116H5020H4430H8429H6966H927H6032H560H1907H3809H7412H8532H1400H3729H1459H5135H6032H560H4430H3330H4430 25“Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!”H6032H560H1888H576H2370H703H1400H8271H1981H1459H5135H383H3809H2257H7299H7244H1821H1247H426 26Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the flaming furnace and shouted: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire.H116H5020H7127H8651H3345H5135H861H6032H560H7715H4336H5665H5649H5943H426H5312H858H116H7715H4336H5665H5312H4481H1459H5135 27Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke!H324H5460H6347H4430H1907H3673H2370H479H1400H1655H5135H3809H7981H3809H8177H7217H2761H3809H5622H8133H3809H7382H5135H5709 28Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king’s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.H5020H6032H560H1289H426H7715H4336H5665H7972H4398H7804H5649H7365H5922H8133H4430H4406H3052H1655H3809H6399H3809H5457H3606H426H3861H426 29Therefore, I make this decree: If any people, whatever their race or nation or language, speak a word against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they will be torn limb from limb, and their houses will be turned into heaps of rubble. There is no other god who can rescue like this!”H4481H7761H2942H3606H5972H524H3961H560H7960H7955H5922H426H7715H4336H5665H5648H1917H1005H7739H5122H6903H3606H383H3809H321H426H3202H5338H1836 30Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to even higher positions in the province of Babylon.H116H4430H6744H7715H4336H5665H4083H895

55[For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by stringed instruments.] Listen to my prayer, O God. Do not ignore my cry for help!H5329H5058H4905H1732H238H8605H430H5956H8467 2Please listen and answer me, for I am overwhelmed by my troubles.H7181H6030H7300H7879H1949 3My enemies shout at me, making loud and wicked threats. They bring trouble on me and angrily hunt me down.H6963H341H6440H6125H7563H4131H205H639H7852 4My heart pounds in my chest. The terror of death assaults me.H3820H2342H7130H367H4194H5307 5Fear and trembling overwhelm me, and I can’t stop shaking.H3374H7461H935H6427H3680 6Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest!H559H5414H83H3123H5774H7931 7I would fly far away to the quiet of the wilderness. InterludeH5074H7368H3885H4057H5542 8How quickly I would escape—far from this wild storm of hatred.H2363H4655H7307H5584H5591 9Confuse them, Lord, and frustrate their plans, for I see violence and conflict in the city.H1104H136H6385H3956H7200H2555H7379H5892 10Its walls are patrolled day and night against invaders, but the real danger is wickedness within the city.H3119H3915H5437H2346H205H5999H7130 11Everything is falling apart; threats and cheating are rampant in the streets.H1942H7130H8496H4820H4185H7339 12It is not an enemy who taunts me—I could bear that. It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me—I could have hidden from them.H341H2778H5375H8130H1431H5641 13Instead, it is you—my equal, my companion and close friend.H582H6187H441H3045 14What good fellowship we once enjoyed as we walked together to the house of God.H4985H5475H3162H1980H1004H430H7285 15Let death stalk my enemies; let the grave swallow them alive, for evil makes its home within them.H4194H5377H3451H3381H2416H7585H7451H4033H7130 16But I will call on God, and the Lord will rescue me.H7121H430H3068H3467 17Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my distress, and the Lord hears my voice.H6153H1242H6672H7878H1993H8085H6963 18He ransoms me and keeps me safe from the battle waged against me, though many still oppose me.H6299H5315H7965H7128H7227 19God, who has ruled forever, will hear me and humble them. Interlude For my enemies refuse to change their ways; they do not fear God.H410H8085H6030H3427H6924H5542H2487H3372H430 20As for my companion, he betrayed his friends; he broke his promises.H7971H3027H7965H2490H1285 21His words are as smooth as butter, but in his heart is war. His words are as soothing as lotion, but underneath are daggers!H6310H2505H4260H7128H3820H1697H7401H8081H6609 22Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.H7993H3053H3068H3557H5769H5414H6662H4131 23But you, O God, will send the wicked down to the pit of destruction. Murderers and liars will die young, but I am trusting you to save me.H430H3381H875H7845H1818H4820H582H2673H3117H982