Psalms 64

1 For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Hear, O God, my voice of complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy.

For the Leader. A Psalm of David. Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from the terror of the enemy.

2 Hide me from the scheming of the wicked, from the mob of workers of iniquity,

Hide me from the council of evil-doers; from the tumult of the workers of iniquity;

3 who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows,

Who have whet their tongue like a sword, and have aimed their arrow, a poisoned word;

4 ambushing the innocent in seclusion, shooting suddenly, without fear.

That they may shoot in secret places at the blameless; suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.

5 They hold fast to their evil purpose; they speak of hiding their snares. “Who will see them?” they say.

They encourage one another in an evil matter; they converse of laying snares secretly; they ask, who would see them.

6 They devise injustice and say, “We have perfected a secret plan.” For the inner man and the heart are mysterious.

They search out iniquities, they have accomplished a diligent search; even in the inward thought of every one, and the deep heart.

7 But God will shoot them with arrows; suddenly they will be wounded.

But God doth shoot at them with an arrow suddenly; thence are their wounds.

8 They will be made to stumble, their own tongues turned against them. All who see will shake their heads.

So they make their own tongue a stumbling unto themselves; all that see them shake the head.

9 Then all mankind will fear and proclaim the work of God; so they will ponder what He has done.

And all men fear; and they declare the work of God, and understand His doing.

10 Let the righteous rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in Him; let all the upright in heart exult.

The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall take refuge in Him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.