Cast Your Burden upon the LORD (2 Samuel 17:15–29)
1 Brenton For the end, among Hymns of instruction by David. Hearken, O God, to my prayer; and disregard not my supplication. BSB BSB: For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Maskil of David. Listen to my prayer, O God, and do not ignore my plea.
2 Brenton Attend to me, and hearken to me: I was grieved in my meditation, and troubled; BSB BSB: Attend to me and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and distraught
3 Brenton because of the voice of the enemy, and because of the oppression of the sinner: for they brought iniquity against me, and were wrathfully angry with me. BSB BSB: at the voice of the enemy, at the pressure of the wicked. For they bring down disaster upon me and resent me in their anger.
4 Brenton My heart was troubled within me; and the fear of death fell upon me. BSB BSB: My heart pounds within me, and the terrors of death assail me.
5 Brenton Fear and trembling came upon me, and darkness covered me. BSB BSB: Fear and trembling grip me, and horror has overwhelmed me.
6 Brenton And I said, O that I had wings as those of a dove! then would I flee away, and be at rest. BSB BSB: I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest.
7 Brenton Lo! I have fled afar off, and lodged in the wilderness. Pause. BSB BSB: How far away I would flee! In the wilderness I would remain. Selah
8 Brenton I waited for him that should deliver me from distress of spirit and tempest. BSB BSB: I would hurry to my shelter, far from this raging tempest.”
9 Brenton Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen iniquity and gainsaying in the city. BSB BSB: O Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city.
10 Brenton Day and night he shall go round about it upon its walls: iniquity and sorrow and unrighteousness are in the midst of it; BSB BSB: Day and night they encircle the walls, while malice and trouble lie within.
11 Brenton and usury and craft have not failed from its streets. BSB BSB: Destruction is within; oppression and deceit never leave the streets.
12 Brenton For if an enemy had reproached me, I would have endured it; and if one who hated me had spoken vauntingly against me, I would have hid myself from him. BSB BSB: For it is not an enemy who insults me; that I could endure. It is not a foe who rises against me; from him I could hide.
13 Brenton But thou, O man likeminded, my guide, and my acquaintance, BSB BSB: But it is you, a man like myself, my companion and close friend.
14 Brenton who in companionship with me sweetened our food: we walked in the house of God in concord. BSB BSB: We shared sweet fellowship together; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.
15 Brenton Let death come upon them, and let them go down alive into Hades, for iniquity is in their dwellings, in the midst of them. BSB BSB: Let death seize them by surprise; let them go down to Sheol alive, for evil is with them in their homes.
16 Brenton I cried to God, and the Lord hearkened to me. BSB BSB: But I call to God, and the LORD saves me.
17 Brenton Evening, and morning, and at noon I will declare and make known my wants : and he shall hear my voice. BSB BSB: Morning, noon, and night, I cry out in distress, and He hears my voice.
18 Brenton He shall deliver my soul in peace from them that draw nigh to me: for they were with me in many cases . BSB BSB: He redeems my soul in peace from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me.
19 Brenton God shall hear, and bring them low, even he that has existed from eternity. Pause. For they suffer no reverse, and therefore they have not feared God. BSB BSB: God will hear and humiliate them—the One enthroned for the ages—Selah because they do not change and they have no fear of God.
20 Brenton He has reached forth his hand for retribution; they have profaned his covenant. BSB BSB: My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.
21 Brenton They were scattered at the anger of his countenance, and his heart drew nigh them. His words were smoother than oil, yet are they darts. BSB BSB: His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed.
22 Brenton Cast thy care upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee; he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. BSB BSB: Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.
23 Brenton But thou, O God, shalt bring them down to the pit of destruction; bloody and crafty men shall not live out half their days; but I will hope in thee, O Lord. BSB BSB: But You, O God, will bring them down to the Pit of destruction; men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.