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 Neither is it he that hateth me that exalteth himself

against me, Then I could indeed hide myself from him.

14 But thou wast a man on an equality with me, my companion

and familiar friend,

15 We who were wont to have sweet intercourse together, To the house of Elohim we walked in the festive throng.

16 Let death surprise them,

Let them go down alive to Hades ;

For wickedness is in their dwelling, in their inward part.

17 As for me, to Elohim do I cry, And Jahve will save me.

18 Evening and morning and at noon will I meditate and groan, And He will hear my voice,

19 He will deliver, in peace, my soul, so that they come not

at me; For they are very many against me.

20 God will hear, and answer them —

Yea, He sitteth enthroned from the very beginning — (Sela)

Even them, who think nothing of another, And who fear not Elohim.

21 He layeth his hand upon those who are at peace with him, He violateth his covenant.

22 Smooth are the butter-words of his mouth,

and war is his heart ; Soft are his words as oil, and yet are sword-blades.

23 Cast thy burden upon Jahve, He, He will sustain thee ;

He will never suffer the righteous to be moved.

24 And Thou, Elohim, shalt cast them down into the abyss of

the pit, Bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their lives ; But I trust in Thee. Psa 54:1-7 is followed by another Davidic Psalm bearing the same inscription: To the Precentor, with accompaniment of