Psalm 64
Good News Translation
A Prayer for Protection[a]
64 I am in trouble, God—listen to my prayer!
    I am afraid of my enemies—save my life!
2 Protect me from the plots of the wicked,
    from mobs of evil people.
3 They sharpen their tongues like swords
    and aim cruel words like arrows.
4 They are quick to spread their shameless lies;
    they destroy good people with cowardly slander.
5 They encourage each other in their evil plots;
    they talk about where they will place their traps.
    “No one can see them,” they say.
6 They make evil plans and say,
    “We have planned a perfect crime.”
The human heart and mind are a mystery.
7 But God shoots his arrows at them,
    and suddenly they are wounded.
8 He will destroy them because of those words;[b]
    all who see them will shake their heads.
9 They will all be afraid;
    they will think about what God has done
    and tell about his deeds.
10 All righteous people will rejoice
    because of what the Lord has done.
They will find safety in him;
    all good people will praise him.
Footnotes
- Psalm 64:1 HEBREW TITLE: A psalm by David.
- Psalm 64:8 Probable text He will destroy them because of those words; Hebrew They will destroy him, those words are against them.
Psalm 64
King James Version
64 Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.
2 Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:
3 Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:
4 That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.
5 They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?
6 They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep.
7 But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded.
8 So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away.
9 And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing.
10 The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.
Psalm 64
Easy-to-Read Version
To the director: A song of David.
64 God, listen to my complaint.
    Save me from the terrible threats of my enemies!
2 Protect me from the secret plans of the wicked.
    Hide me from that gang of evil people.
3 They sharpen their tongues to use like swords.
    They aim their poisonous words like arrows.
4 Suddenly, from their hiding places, they let their arrows fly.
    They shoot to kill innocent people.
5 They encourage each other to do wrong.
    They talk about setting traps and say, “No one will see them here!
6 No one will discover our crime.
    We have the perfect plan!”
Yes, people can be very tricky and hard to understand.
7 But suddenly, God will shoot his arrows,
    and those wicked people will be hit.
8 He will use their own words against them,
    and they will be destroyed.
Then everyone who sees them
    will shake their heads in amazement.
9 People will see what God has done.
    They will tell other people about him.
Then everyone will learn more about God.
    They will learn to fear and respect him.
10 Good people are happy to serve the Lord.
    They depend on him to protect them.
    All those who want to do right will praise him!
Psalm 64
New International Version
Psalm 64[a]
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
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.
Footnotes
- Psalm 64:1 In Hebrew texts 64:1-10 is numbered 64:2-11.
- Psalm 64:5 Or us
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Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International
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