Psalm 63:2–11

Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint;

preserve my life from dread of the enemy.

Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked,

from the throng of evildoers,

who whet their tongues like swords,

who aim bitter words like arrows,

shooting from ambush at the blameless,

shooting at him suddenly and without fear.

They hold fast to their evil purpose;

they talk of laying snares secretly,

thinking, “Who can see them?”

They search out injustice,

saying, “We have accomplished a diligent search.”

For the inward mind and heart of a man are deep.

But God shoots his arrow at them;

they are wounded suddenly.

They are brought to ruin, with their own tongues turned against them;

all who see them will wag their heads.

Then all mankind fears;

they tell what God has brought about

and ponder what he has done.

Let the righteous one rejoice in the Lord

and take refuge in him!

Let all the upright in heart exult!

Hear me, my God, as I voice my complaint;

protect my life from the threat of the enemy.

Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked,

from the plots of evildoers.

They sharpen their tongues like swords

and aim cruel words like deadly arrows.

They shoot from ambush at the innocent;

they shoot suddenly, without fear.

They encourage each other in evil plans,

they talk about hiding their snares;

they say, “Who will see it?”

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

and bring them to ruin;

all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.

All people will fear;

they will proclaim the works of God

and ponder what he has done.

The righteous will rejoice in the Lord

and take refuge in him;

all the upright in heart will glory in him!

God, hear my voice when I am in anguish.

Protect my life from the terror of the enemy.

Hide me from the scheming of wicked people,

from the mob of evildoers,

who sharpen their tongues like swords

and aim bitter words like arrows,

shooting from concealed places at the blameless.

They shoot at him suddenly and are not afraid.

They adopt an evil plan;

they talk about hiding traps and say,

“Who will see them?”

They devise crimes and say,

“We have perfected a secret plan.”

The inner man and the heart are mysterious.

But God will shoot them with arrows;

suddenly, they will be wounded.

They will be made to stumble;

their own tongues work against them.

All who see them will shake their heads.

Then everyone will fear

and will tell about God’s work,

for they will understand what he has done.

The righteous one rejoices in the Lord

and takes refuge in him;

all those who are upright in heart

will offer praise.

O God, listen to my complaint.

Protect my life from my enemies’ threats.

Hide me from the plots of this evil mob,

from this gang of wrongdoers.

They sharpen their tongues like swords

and aim their bitter words like arrows.

They shoot from ambush at the innocent,

attacking suddenly and fearlessly.

They encourage each other to do evil

and plan how to set their traps in secret.

“Who will ever notice?” they ask.

As they plot their crimes, they say,

“We have devised the perfect plan!”

Yes, the human heart and mind are cunning.

But God himself will shoot them with his arrows,

suddenly striking them down.

Their own tongues will ruin them,

and all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.

Then everyone will be afraid;

they will proclaim the mighty acts of God

and realize all the amazing things he does.

The godly will rejoice in the Lord

and find shelter in him.

And those who do what is right

will praise him.

Hear my voice, O God, in my lamenting.

Preserve my life from the fear of the enemy.

Hide me from the secret plots of evildoers,

from the unrest of those who do iniquity,

who sharpen their tongue like a sword.

They bend their bow to shoot their arrows—bitter words,

to shoot from their hiding places at the blameless.

Suddenly they shoot at him and do not fear.

They encourage themselves in the evil matter.

They talk of secretly laying snares.

They say, “Who will see them?”

They carefully plot injustices saying,

“We have perfected the perfect plot!”

Both the inner thought and heart of a man are deep.

But God will shoot them;

with an arrow they will suddenly be wounded.

And they who would cause him to stumble,

their own tongue will be against them.

All who gaze on them will shake.

And then all men will fear,

and will declare the working of God,

and will understand his doing.

The righteous will rejoice in Yahweh and take refuge in him,

and all the upright in heart will boast.

Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer:

Preserve my life from fear of the enemy.

Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked;

From the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:

Who whet their tongue like a sword,

And bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:

That they may shoot in secret at the perfect:

Suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.

They encourage themselves in an evil matter:

They commune of laying snares privily;

They say, Who shall see them?

They search out iniquities;

They accomplish a diligent search:

Both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep.

But God shall shoot at them with an arrow;

Suddenly shall they be wounded.

So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves:

All that see them shall flee away.

And all men shall fear,

And shall declare the work of God;

For they shall wisely consider of his doing.

The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in him;

And all the upright in heart shall glory.