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To the Director: A Davidic Psalm.

A Prayer for Protection

64 Hear, God, as I express my concern;
    protect me[a] from fear of the enemy.
Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked,
    from the mob of those who practice evil,
who sharpen their tongues like swords,
    and aim their bitter words like arrows,
shooting at the innocent from concealment.

Suddenly they shoot, fearing nothing.
They concoct an evil scheme for themselves;
they enumerate their hidden snares;
    they say, “Who will see them?”[b]
They devise wicked schemes, saying,
    “We have completed our plans,
        hiding them deep in our hearts.”

But God shot an arrow at them,
    and they were wounded immediately.
They tripped over their own tongues,
    and everyone who was watching ran away.
Everyone was gripped with fear
    and acknowledged God’s deeds,
        understanding what he had done.
10 The righteous rejoiced in the Lord,
    because they had fled to him for refuge.
        Let all the upright in heart exult.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 64:1 Lit. my life
  2. Psalm 64:5 Lit. see him; or see it