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To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

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

Hide me from the secret counsel of evil-doers, from the tumultuous crowd of the workers of iniquity,

Who have sharpened their tongue like a sword, [and] have aimed their arrow, a bitter word;

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 concert to hide snares; they say, Who will see them?

They devise iniquities: We have it ready, the plan is diligently sought out. And each one's inward [thought] and heart is deep.

But God will shoot an arrow at them: suddenly are they wounded;

By their own tongue they are made to fall over one another: all that see them shall flee away.

And all men shall fear, and shall declare God's doing; and they shall wisely consider his work.

10 The righteous shall rejoice in Jehovah, and trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.

Psalm 64[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

Hear me, my God, as I voice my complaint;(A)
    protect my life from the threat of the enemy.(B)

Hide me from the conspiracy(C) of the wicked,(D)
    from the plots of evildoers.
They sharpen their tongues like swords(E)
    and aim cruel words like deadly arrows.(F)
They shoot from ambush at the innocent;(G)
    they shoot suddenly, without fear.(H)

They encourage each other in evil plans,
    they talk about hiding their snares;(I)
    they say, “Who will see it[b]?”(J)
They plot injustice and say,
    “We have devised a perfect plan!”
    Surely the human mind and heart are cunning.

But God will shoot them with his arrows;
    they will suddenly be struck down.
He will turn their own tongues against them(K)
    and bring them to ruin;
    all who see them will shake their heads(L) in scorn.(M)
All people will fear;(N)
    they will proclaim the works of God
    and ponder what he has done.(O)

10 The righteous will rejoice in the Lord(P)
    and take refuge in him;(Q)
    all the upright in heart will glory in him!(R)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 64:1 In Hebrew texts 64:1-10 is numbered 64:2-11.
  2. Psalm 64:5 Or us