Cast Your Cares on the Lord

(2 Samuel 17:15-29)

1For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. Maschil of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.

2Attend unto me, and answer me: I am restless in my complaint, and moan;

3Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked; for they cast iniquity upon me, and in anger they persecute me.

4My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.

5Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.

6And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! then would I fly away, and be at rest.

7Lo, then would I wander far off, I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah

8I would haste me to a shelter from the stormy wind and tempest.

9Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongue: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

10Day and night they go about upon the walls thereof: iniquity also and mischief are in the midst of it.

11Wickedness is in the midst thereof: oppression and guile depart not from her streets.

12For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:

13But it was thou, a man mine equal, my companion, and my familiar friend.

14We took sweet counsel together, we walked in the house of God with the throng.

15Let death come suddenly upon them, let them go down alive into the pit: for wickedness is in their dwelling, in the midst of them.

16As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.

17Evening, and morning, and at noonday, will I complain, and moan: and he shall hear my voice.

18He hath redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for they were many that strove with me.

19God shall hear, and answer them, even he that abideth of old, Selah the men who have no changes, and who fear not God.

20He hath put forth his hands against such as were at peace with him: he hath profaned his covenant.

21His mouth was smooth as butter, but his heart was war: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.

22Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

23But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.