they wait in their hiding place like lions. They lie in wait for the poor; they catch them in their traps and drag them away.

The helpless victims lie crushed; brute strength has defeated them.

Wicked people watch good people and try to kill them;

but the LORD will not abandon them to their enemy's power or let them be condemned when they are on trial.

Those who want to kill me lay traps for me, and those who want to hurt me threaten to ruin me; they never stop plotting against me.

They gather in hiding places and watch everything I do, hoping to kill me.

Saul told his son Jonathan and all his officials that he planned to kill David. But Jonathan was very fond of David,

The words of the wicked are murderous, but the words of the righteous rescue those who are threatened.

There is not an honest person left in the land, no one loyal to God. Everyone is waiting for a chance to commit murder. Everyone hunts down their own people.

But don't listen to them, because there are more than forty men who will be hiding and waiting for him. They have taken a vow not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are now ready to do it and are waiting for your decision."

Their kings revolt, their rulers plot together against the LORD and against the king he chose.

The kings of the earth prepared themselves, and the rulers met together against the Lord and his Messiah.'

For indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together in this city with the Gentiles and the people of Israel against Jesus, your holy Servant, whom you made Messiah.

O LORD, my God, if I have wronged anyone, if I have betrayed a friend or without cause done violence to my enemy --- if I have done any of these things---

then let my enemies pursue me and catch me, let them cut me down and kill me and leave me lifeless on the ground!

Those who hate me for no reason are more numerous than the hairs of my head. My enemies tell lies against me; they are strong and want to kill me. They made me give back things I did not steal.

Look, my father, look at the piece of your robe I am holding! I could have killed you, but instead I only cut this off. This should convince you that I have no thought of rebelling against you or of harming you. You are hunting me down to kill me, even though I have not done you any wrong.

Then he said to David, "You are right, and I am wrong. You have been so good to me, while I have done such wrong to you!

And he added, "Why, sir, are you still pursuing me, your servant? What have I done? What crime have I committed?

This, however, was bound to happen so that what is written in their Law may come true: 'They hated me for no reason at all.'