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A Prayer for Protection[a]

64 I am in trouble, God—listen to my prayer!
    I am afraid of my enemies—save my life!
Protect me from the plots of the wicked,
    from mobs of evil people.
They sharpen their tongues like swords
    and aim cruel words like arrows.
They are quick to spread their shameless lies;
    they destroy good people with cowardly slander.
They encourage each other in their evil plots;
    they talk about where they will place their traps.
    “No one can see them,” they say.
They make evil plans and say,
    “We have planned a perfect crime.”
The human heart and mind are a mystery.

But God shoots his arrows at them,
    and suddenly they are wounded.
He will destroy them because of those words;[b]
    all who see them will shake their heads.
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

  1. Psalm 64:1 HEBREW TITLE: A psalm by David.
  2. 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[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