64 Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.

Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:

Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:

That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.

They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?

They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep.

But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded.

So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away.

And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing.

10 The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.

64 1 David prayeth against the fury and false reports of his enemies. 7 He declareth their punishment and destruction. 10 To the comfort of the just and the glory of God.

To him that excelleth. A Psalm of David.

Hear my [a]voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.

Hide me from the [b]conspiracy of the wicked, and from the [c]rage of the works of iniquity.

Which have whet their tongue like a sword, and shot for their arrows [d]bitter words:

To shoot at the upright in secret: they shoot at him suddenly and [e]fear not.

They [f]encourage themselves in a wicked purpose: they commune together to lay snares privily, and say, Who shall see them?

They have sought out iniquities, and have accomplished that which they sought out, even everyone [g]his secret thoughts, and the depth of his heart.

But God will shoot an arrow at them suddenly: their strokes shall be at once.

They shall cause their own tongue to fall upon them: and whosoever shall see them, shall [h]flee away.

And all men shall see it, and declare the work of God, and they shall understand, what he hath wrought.

10 But the righteous [i]shall be glad in the Lord, and trust in him: and all that are upright of heart, shall rejoice.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 64:1 In that he calleth to God with his voice, it is a sign that his prayer was vehement, and that his life was in a danger.
  2. Psalm 64:2 That is, from their secret malice.
  3. Psalm 64:2 To wit, their outward violence.
  4. Psalm 64:3 False reports and slanders.
  5. Psalm 64:4 To be without fear of God, and reverence of man, is a sign of reprobation.
  6. Psalm 64:5 The more that the wicked see God’s children in misery, the more bold and impudent are they in oppressing them.
  7. Psalm 64:6 There is no way so secret and subtle to do hurt, which they invented not for his destruction.
  8. Psalm 64:8 To see God’s heavy judgments against them, and how he hath caught them in their own snares.
  9. Psalm 64:10 When they shall consider that he will be favorable to them as he was to his servant David.