Psalms 64

1 [For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.] Hear my voice, God, in my complaint. Preserve my life from fear of the enemy.

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 Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, from the noisy crowd of the ones doing evil;

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

3 who sharpen their tongue like a sword, and aim their arrows, deadly words,

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

4 to shoot innocent men from ambushes. They shoot at him suddenly and fearlessly.

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

5 They encourage themselves in evil plans. They talk about laying snares secretly. They say, "Who will see them?"

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

6 They plot injustice; they hide a well-conceived plan. Surely man's mind and heart are cunning.

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 at them. They will be suddenly struck down with an arrow.

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

8 Their own tongues shall ruin them. All who see them will shake their heads.

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

9 All humankind shall be afraid. They shall declare the work of God, and shall wisely ponder what he has done.

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

10 The righteous shall be glad in Jehovah, and shall take refuge in him. All the upright in heart shall 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.