Psalms 64

1 For the music director. A psalm of David. God, please listen to my complaint. Protect me because my enemies scare me.

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.

2 Shelter me from the plots of the wicked, from this evil mob.

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

3 What they say cuts like swords; they fire off poisonous words like arrows.

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

4 They shoot from their hiding places at innocent people—doing this without warning, not afraid of being caught.

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

5 They encourage one another to do evil, planning how to secretly trap people, telling themselves, “Nobody will notice.”

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

6 They plot wicked things. “What a great plan we've created!” they say. There are no limits to the depths to which human minds and thoughts can sink.

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.

7 But God will shoot them with arrows; all of a sudden they will be wounded.

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

8 What they themselves say will trip them up; people who see them will mock them, shaking their heads at them.

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

9 Then everyone will be frightened. They will say that this is the work of God, and they will think about what he has done.

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

10 Those who are right with the Lord will be happy in him, they will go to him for protection. Those who live right will praise him.

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