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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

7 But God will shoot at them. They will be suddenly struck down with an arrow.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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