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64 To the Overseer. -- A Psalm of David. Hear, O God, my voice, in my meditation, From the fear of an enemy Thou keepest my life,

Hidest me from the secret counsel of evil doers, From the tumult of workers of iniquity.

Who sharpened as a sword their tongue, They directed their arrow -- a bitter word.

To shoot in secret places the perfect, Suddenly they shoot him, and fear not.

They strengthen for themselves an evil thing, They recount of the hiding of snares, They have said, `Who doth look at it?'

They search out perverse things, `We perfected a searching search,' And the inward part of man, and the heart [are] deep.

And God doth shoot them [with] an arrow, Sudden have been their wounds,

And they cause him to stumble, Against them [is] their own tongue, Every looker on them fleeth away.

And all men fear, and declare the work of God, And His deed they have considered wisely.

10 The righteous doth rejoice in Jehovah, And hath trusted in Him, And boast themselves do all the upright of heart!

Psalm 64[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

Hear me, my God, as I voice my complaint;(A)
    protect my life from the threat of the enemy.(B)

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

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

But God will shoot them with his arrows;
    they will suddenly be struck down.
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)
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)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 64:1 In Hebrew texts 64:1-10 is numbered 64:2-11.
  2. Psalm 64:5 Or us