David’s prayer weaves together his request from God to listen, for God to heed his plea, and for God to act in order to keep him from the fate of the wicked. Which leads David to a reflection — in his soulish wandering — on the fate of the wicked — they get what they earn. His essential prayer is that God will deconstruct their plottings and turn their plots against them. All of this is found in Psalm 28:1-5.

David’s enemies are those who say they want peace (shalom) but what they really want is evil (which means the shattering of shalom).

The wicked will be dragged away (to death); they will be torn down.

The issue for David, and ultimately, is they do not regard the deeds of YHWH and the work of YHWH’s hands. The deeds of YHWH are not clarified: Goldingay speaks of God’s faithfulness and this turns against the unfaithfulness of others. But one has to think here also of God’s mighty deeds and not living in light of those redemptive and law-giving deeds as well as God’s judging deeds. 

Psa. 28:0   Of David.

Psa. 28:1   To you, LORD, I call;

you are my Rock,

do not turn a deaf ear to me.

For if you remain silent,

I will be like those who go down to the pit. 

2 Hear my cry for mercy

as I call to you for help,

as I lift up my hands

toward your Most Holy Place.

Psa. 28:3   Do not drag me away with the wicked,

with those who do evil,

who speak cordially with their neighbors

but harbor malice in their hearts. 

4 Repay them for their deeds

and for their evil work;

repay them for what their hands have done

and bring back on them what they deserve.

Psa. 28:5   Because they have no regard for the deeds of the LORD

and what his hands have done,

he will tear them down

and never build them up again.

Psa. 28:6   Praise be to the LORD,

for he has heard my cry for mercy. 

7 The LORD is my strength and my shield;

my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.

My heart leaps for joy,

and with my song I praise him.

Psa. 28:8   The LORD is the strength of his people,

a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. 

9 Save your people and bless your inheritance;

be their shepherd and carry them forever.