A lament psalm driven by the anguish of betrayal by a close friend. David cries out under the weight of enemies, expresses a desperate wish to flee like a dove into the wilderness, and then reveals the deepest wound: the betrayer is not a stranger but an intimate companion. The psalm oscillates between terror and trust, ending with a command to cast one's burden on the LORD.
This psalm contains one of the most psychologically raw passages in the Hebrew Bible (vv. 13-15). David's pain is not primarily from enemies — enemies he can handle — but from a friend, a companion (aluf, meyudda), someone with whom he walked to God's house in fellowship. The betrayal of intimacy is more devastating than the hostility of strangers because it corrupts the place where trust lived. The dove-flight fantasy (vv. 7-9) is not escapism but an honest expression of the human wish, under unbearable pressure, to simply disappear. David wants wings — not to fight, not to conquer, but to fly away and rest. The Hebrew Bible rarely grants its heroes the luxury of pretending they are unbreakable.
The historical setting is uncertain. The description of a friend's betrayal has led to associations with Ahithophel, David's counselor who defected to Absalom's rebellion (2 Samuel 15:12, 31). This identification is plausible but not certain — the psalm's language is general enough to apply to any intimate betrayal. The text of verse 16 (Hebrew) is difficult; the shift between singular and plural enemies, and between second and third person address, suggests either a complex rhetorical strategy or textual disturbance.
The Ahithophel connection links to 2 Samuel 15-17 and Jesus's betrayal by Judas (the early church read this psalm christologically, as in Acts 1:16-20). The dove imagery connects to Song of Songs 2:14 and Hosea 7:11. The command to 'cast your burden on the LORD' (v. 23) is quoted in 1 Peter 5:7. The description of the friend's smooth speech hiding violence (v. 22) echoes Proverbs 26:23-26.
לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ בִּנְגִינֹ֗ת מַשְׂכִּ֥יל לְדָוִֽד׃
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil of David.
KJV To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David.
הַאֲזִ֣ינָה אֱ֭לֹהִים תְּפִלָּתִ֑י וְאַל־תִּ֝תְעַלַּ֗ם מִתְּחִנָּתִֽי׃
Give ear to my prayer, God, and do not hide yourself from my plea.
KJV Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.
הַקְשִׁ֣יבָה לִּ֣י וַעֲנֵ֑נִי אָרִ֖יד בְּשִׂיחִ֣י וְאָהִֽימָה׃
Pay attention to me and answer me! I am restless in my anguish; I groan aloud.
KJV Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;
מִקּ֤וֹל אוֹיֵ֗ב מִפְּנֵ֣י עׇקַ֣ת רָשָׁ֑ע כִּי־יָמִ֥יטוּ עָלַ֥י אָ֝֗וֶן וּבְאַ֥ף יִשְׂטְמֽוּנִי׃
Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the pressure of the wicked — for they heap trouble upon me and in anger they bear a grudge against me.
KJV Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.
לִ֭בִּי יָחִ֣יל בְּקִרְבִּ֑י וְאֵימ֥וֹת מָ֝֗וֶת נָפְל֥וּ עָלָֽי׃
My heart writhes within me, and the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
KJV My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
יִרְאָ֣ה וָ֭רַעַד יָבֹ֣א בִ֑י וַ֝תְּכַסֵּ֗נִי פַּלָּצֽוּת׃
Fear and trembling come over me, and shuddering covers me.
KJV Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
וָאֹמַ֗ר מִֽי־יִתֶּן־לִ֣י אֵ֭בֶר כַּיּוֹנָ֑ה אָ֝ע֗וּפָה וְאֶשְׁכֹּֽנָה׃
And I said, "Who will give me wings like a dove? I would fly away and find rest.
KJV And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.
הִ֭נֵּה אַרְחִ֣יק נְדֹ֑ד אָלִ֖ין בַּמִּדְבָּ֣ר סֶֽלָה׃
I would flee far away; I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah.
KJV Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.
אָחִ֗ישָׁה מִפְלָ֥ט לִ֑י מֵר֖וּחַ סֹעָ֣ה מִסָּֽעַר׃
I would hurry to my shelter from the raging wind and storm."
KJV I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.
בַּלַּ֣ע אֲ֭דֹנָי פַּלַּ֣ג לְשׁוֹנָ֑ם כִּֽי־רָאִ֥יתִי חָ֝מָ֗ס וְרִ֣יב בָּעִֽיר׃
Confuse their speech, Lord! Divide their tongues! For I have seen violence and conflict in the city.
KJV Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
יוֹמָ֣ם וָ֭לַיְלָה יְסוֹבְבֻ֣הָ עַל־חוֹמֹתֶ֑יהָ וְאָ֖וֶן וְעָמָ֣ל בְּקִרְבָּֽהּ׃
Day and night they circle its walls; trouble and misery are within it.
KJV Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.
הַוּ֥וֹת בְּקִרְבָּ֑הּ וְלֹא־יָמִ֥ישׁ מֵ֝רְחֹבָ֗הּ תֹּ֣ךְ וּמִרְמָֽה׃
Destruction is within it; oppression and deceit never leave its public square.
KJV Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
כִּ֤י לֹֽא־אוֹיֵ֣ב יְחָרְפֵ֣נִי וְאֶשָּׂ֑א לֹֽא־מְ֝שַׂנְאִ֗י עָלַ֥י הִגְדִּ֗יל וְאֶסָּתֵ֥ר מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃
For it is not an enemy who taunts me — that I could bear. It is not a foe who rises against me — from that one I could hide.
KJV For 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:
וְאַתָּ֣ה אֱנ֣וֹשׁ כְּעֶרְכִּ֑י אַ֝לּוּפִ֗י וּמְיֻדָּעִֽי׃
But it was you — a man my equal, my companion, my close friend.
KJV But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר יַ֭חְדָּו נַמְתִּ֣יק ס֑וֹד בְּבֵ֥ית אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים נְהַלֵּ֥ךְ בְּרָֽגֶשׁ׃
Together we shared sweet counsel; we walked in the house of God among the throng.
KJV We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.
יַשִּׁימָ֤וֶת עָלֵ֗ימוֹ יֵרְד֣וּ שְׁא֣וֹל חַיִּ֑ים כִּֽי־רָע֖וֹת בִּמְגוּרָ֣ם בְּקִרְבָּֽם׃
Let death come upon them suddenly; let them go down to Sheol alive, for evil is in their dwelling and within them.
KJV Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell; for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.
אֲ֭נִי אֶל־אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֶקְרָ֑א וַ֝יהֹוָ֗ה יוֹשִׁיעֵֽנִי׃
As for me, I call upon God, and the LORD will save me.
KJV As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.
עֶ֤רֶב וָבֹ֣קֶר וְ֭צׇהֳרַיִם אָשִׂ֥יחָה וְאֶהֱמֶ֗ה וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע קוֹלִֽי׃
Evening and morning and noon I cry out in anguish, and he hears my voice.
KJV Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
פָּ֘דָ֤ה בְשָׁל֣וֹם נַ֭פְשִׁי מִקְּרׇב־לִ֑י כִּֽי־בְ֝רַבִּ֗ים הָי֥וּ עִמָּדִֽי׃
He redeems my life in peace from the battle waged against me, for many are on my side.
KJV He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.
יִשְׁמַ֤ע ׀ אֵ֗ל וְיַעֲנֵ֗ם וְיֹ֘שֵׁ֤ב קֶ֨דֶם ׀ סֶ֗לָה אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֵ֥ין חֲלִיפ֗וֹת לָ֑מוֹ וְלֹ֖א יָרְא֣וּ אֱלֹהִֽים׃
God will hear and humble them — he who sits enthroned from of old. Selah. For they have no fear of change; they do not fear God.
KJV God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.
שָׁלַ֣ח יָ֭דָיו בִּשְׁלֹמָ֑יו חִלֵּ֥ל בְּרִיתֽוֹ׃
He stretched out his hands against those at peace with him; he violated his covenant.
KJV He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.
חָלְק֗וּ מַחְמָאֹ֥ת פִּיו֮ וּקְרׇב־לִ֫בּ֥וֹ רַכּ֣וּ דְ֭בָרָיו מִשֶּׁ֑מֶן וְ֝הֵ֗מָּה פְתִחֽוֹת׃
His speech was smooth as butter, but war was in his heart. His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.
KJV The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.
הַשְׁלֵ֤ךְ עַל־יְהֹוָ֨ה ׀ יְהָבְךָ֗ וְה֣וּא יְ֭כַלְכְּלֶךָ לֹא־יִ֘תֵּ֥ן לְעוֹלָ֗ם מ֣וֹט לַצַּדִּֽיק׃
Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.
KJV Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
וְאַתָּ֤ה אֱלֹהִ֗ים תּוֹרִדֵ֮ם ׀ לִבְאֵ֢ר שַׁ֫חַ֥ת אַנְשֵׁ֤י דָמִ֣ים וּ֭מִרְמָה לֹא־יֶחֱצ֣וּ יְמֵיהֶ֑ם וַ֝אֲנִ֗י אֶבְטַח־בָּֽךְ׃
But you, God, will bring them down to the pit of destruction. Men of blood and deceit will not live out half their days. But I — I will trust in you.
KJV But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.