Psalms 64

1 To the chief music-maker. A Psalm. Of David. O God, let the voice of my grief come to your ear: keep my life from the fear of those who are against me.

For the leader. A psalm of David. Hear, O my God, the voice of my lament: guard my life from the dread of the foe.

2 Keep me safe from the secret purpose of wrongdoers; from the band of the workers of evil;

Hide me from villains who secretly plot, from the blustering throng of the workers of evil,

3 Who make their tongues sharp like a sword, and whose arrows are pointed, even bitter words;

who have sharpened their tongue like a sword, and aimed bitter words like arrows,

4 So that in secret they may let loose their arrows at the upright, suddenly and unseen.

which from ambush they launch at the blameless, shooting swiftly and unafraid.

5 They make themselves strong in an evil purpose; they make holes for secret nets; they say, Who will see it,

They strengthen their wicked purpose, they tell of the snares they have hidden, they say to themselves, “Who can see?”

6 Or make discovery of our secret purpose? The design is framed with care; and the inner thought of a man, and his heart, is deep.

They think out their crimes full cunningly hidden deep in their crafty hearts.

7 But God sends out an arrow against them; suddenly they are wounded.

But God with his arrow will shoot them, swiftly shall they be smitten.

8 The evil of their tongues is the cause of their fall; all those who see them are shaking their heads at them.

For their tongue he will bring them to ruin, all will shudder with horror at the sight of them.

9 And in fear men make public the works of God; and giving thought to his acts they get wisdom.

Then every person, touched to awe, as they ponder what God has wrought, will tell the tale of his deeds.

10 The upright will be glad in the Lord and have hope in him; and all the lovers of righteousness will give him glory.

In the Lord shall the righteous rejoice, in him shall they take refuge; and all the true-hearted shall glory.