² Hide me from the conspiracy^(C) of the wicked,^(D)
    from the plots of evildoers.
³ They sharpen their tongues like swords^(E)
    and aim cruel words like deadly arrows.^(F)
4 They shoot from ambush at the innocent;^(G)
    they shoot suddenly, without fear.^(H)

⁵ They encourage each other in evil plans,
    they talk about hiding their snares;^(I)
    they say, “Who will see it^[b]?”^(J)
6 They plot injustice and say,
    “We have devised a perfect plan!”
    Surely the human mind and heart are cunning.

⁷ But God will shoot them with his arrows;
    they will suddenly be struck down.
⁸ He will turn their own tongues against them^(K)
    and bring them to ruin;
    all who see them will shake their heads^(L) in scorn.^(M)
9 All people will fear;^(N)
    they will proclaim the works of God
    and ponder what he has done.^(O)

¹⁰ The righteous will rejoice in the Lord^(P)
    and take refuge in him;^(Q)
    all the upright in heart will glory in him!^(R)

² In their own eyes they flatter themselves
    too much to detect or hate their sin.^(D)
3 The words of their mouths^(E) are wicked and deceitful;^(F)
    they fail to act wisely^(G) or do good.^(H)
4 Even on their beds they plot evil;^(I)
    they commit themselves to a sinful course^(J)
    and do not reject what is wrong.^(K)

⁵ Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
    your faithfulness^(L) to the skies.^(M)
6 Your righteousness^(N) is like the highest mountains,^(O)
    your justice like the great deep.^(P)
    You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.^(Q)
7 How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!^(R)
    People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.^(S)
8 They feast on the abundance of your house;^(T)
    you give them drink from your river^(U) of delights.^(V)
9 For with you is the fountain of life;^(W)
    in your light^(X) we see light.

¹⁰ Continue your love^(Y) to those who know you,^(Z)
    your righteousness to the upright in heart.^(AA)
11 May the foot of the proud not come against me,
    nor the hand of the wicked^(AB) drive me away.
¹² See how the evildoers lie fallen—
    thrown down, not able to rise!^(AC)

⁴ May those who seek my life^(I)
    be disgraced^(J) and put to shame;^(K)
may those who plot my ruin
    be turned back^(L) in dismay.
⁵ May they be like chaff^(M) before the wind,
    with the angel of the Lord^(N) driving them away;
⁶ may their path be dark and slippery,
    with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.

⁷ Since they hid their net^(O) for me without cause^(P)
    and without cause dug a pit^(Q) for me,
⁸ may ruin overtake them by surprise—^(R)
    may the net they hid entangle them,
    may they fall into the pit,^(S) to their ruin.
⁹ Then my soul will rejoice^(T) in the Lord
    and delight in his salvation.^(U)
10 My whole being will exclaim,
    “Who is like you,^(V) Lord?
You rescue the poor from those too strong^(W) for them,
    the poor and needy^(X) from those who rob them.”

¹¹ Ruthless witnesses^(Y) come forward;
    they question me on things I know nothing about.
¹² They repay me evil for good^(Z)
    and leave me like one bereaved.
¹³ Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth^(AA)
    and humbled myself with fasting.^(AB)
When my prayers returned to me unanswered,
¹⁴     I went about mourning^(AC)
    as though for my friend or brother.
I bowed my head in grief
    as though weeping for my mother.
¹⁵ But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee;^(AD)
    assailants gathered against me without my knowledge.
    They slandered^(AE) me without ceasing.
¹⁶ Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked;^[b](AF)
    they gnashed their teeth^(AG) at me.

¹⁷ How long,^(AH) Lord, will you look on?
    Rescue me from their ravages,
    my precious life^(AI) from these lions.^(AJ)
18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly;^(AK)
    among the throngs^(AL) I will praise you.^(AM)
19 Do not let those gloat over me
    who are my enemies^(AN) without cause;
do not let those who hate me without reason^(AO)
    maliciously wink the eye.^(AP)
20 They do not speak peaceably,
    but devise false accusations^(AQ)
    against those who live quietly in the land.
²¹ They sneer^(AR) at me and say, “Aha! Aha!^(AS)
    With our own eyes we have seen it.”

²² Lord, you have seen^(AT) this; do not be silent.
    Do not be far^(AU) from me, Lord.
²³ Awake,^(AV) and rise^(AW) to my defense!
    Contend^(AX) for me, my God and Lord.
²⁴ Vindicate me in your righteousness, Lord my God;
    do not let them gloat^(AY) over me.
²⁵ Do not let them think, “Aha,^(AZ) just what we wanted!”
    or say, “We have swallowed him up.”^(BA)

²⁶ May all who gloat^(BB) over my distress^(BC)
    be put to shame^(BD) and confusion;
may all who exalt themselves over me^(BE)
    be clothed with shame and disgrace.
²⁷ May those who delight in my vindication^(BF)
    shout for joy^(BG) and gladness;
may they always say, “The Lord be exalted,
    who delights^(BH) in the well-being of his servant.”^(BI)

²⁸ My tongue will proclaim your righteousness,^(BJ)
    your praises all day long.^(BK)

³ See how they lie in wait for me!
    Fierce men conspire^(F) against me
    for no offense or sin of mine, Lord.
⁴ I have done no wrong,^(G) yet they are ready to attack me.^(H)
    Arise to help me; look on my plight!^(I)
5 You, Lord God Almighty,
    you who are the God of Israel,^(J)
rouse yourself^(K) to punish all the nations;^(L)
    show no mercy to wicked traitors.^[c](M)

⁶ They return at evening,
    snarling like dogs,^(N)
    and prowl about the city.
⁷ See what they spew from their mouths^(O)—
    the words from their lips are sharp as swords,^(P)
    and they think, “Who can hear us?”^(Q)
8 But you laugh at them, Lord;^(R)
    you scoff at all those nations.^(S)

⁹ You are my strength,^(T) I watch for you;
    you, God, are my fortress,^(U)
10     my God on whom I can rely.

God will go before me
    and will let me gloat over those who slander me.
¹¹ But do not kill them, Lord our shield,^[d](V)
    or my people will forget.^(W)
In your might uproot them
    and bring them down.^(X)
12 For the sins of their mouths,^(Y)
    for the words of their lips,^(Z)
    let them be caught in their pride.^(AA)
For the curses and lies they utter,
¹³     consume them in your wrath,
    consume them till they are no more.^(AB)
Then it will be known to the ends of the earth
    that God rules over Jacob.^(AC)

¹⁴ They return at evening,
    snarling like dogs,
    and prowl about the city.
¹⁵ They wander about for food^(AD)
    and howl if not satisfied.
¹⁶ But I will sing^(AE) of your strength,^(AF)
    in the morning^(AG) I will sing of your love;^(AH)
for you are my fortress,^(AI)
    my refuge in times of trouble.^(AJ)

¹⁷ You are my strength, I sing praise to you;
    you, God, are my fortress,
    my God on whom I can rely.^(AK)