Psalm 64–65

A Prayer for Protection^g

64 I am in trouble, God—listen to my prayer!

I am afraid of my enemies—save my life!

²Protect me from the plots of the wicked,

from evil mobs.

³They sharpen their tongues like swords

and aim cruel words like arrows.

⁴They are quick to spread their shameless lies;

they destroy good people with cowardly slander.

⁵They encourage each other in their evil plots;

they plan where to place their traps.

“No one can see them,” they say.

⁶They make evil plans and say,

“We have planned a perfect crime.”

The human heart and mind are a mystery.

⁷But God shoots his arrows at them,

and suddenly they are wounded.

⁸He will destroy them because of those words;^h

all who see them will shake their heads.

⁹They will all be afraid;

they will think about what God has done

and tell about his deeds.

¹⁰All righteous people will rejoice

because of what the Lord has done.

They will find safety in him;

all good people will praise him.

Praise and Thanksgivingⁱ

65 O God, it is right for us to praise you in Zion

and keep our promises to you,

²because you answer prayers.

People everywhere will come to you

³on account of their sins.

Our faults defeat us,^j

but you forgive them.

⁴Happy are those whom you choose,

whom you bring to live in your sanctuary.

We shall be satisfied with the good things of your house,

the blessings of your sacred Temple.

⁵You answer us by giving us victory

and you do wonderful things to save us.

People all over the world

and across the distant seas trust in you.

⁶You set the mountains in place by your strength,

showing your mighty power.

⁷You calm the roar of the seas

and the noise of the waves;

you calm the uproar of the peoples.

⁸The whole world stands in awe

of the great things that you have done.

Your deeds bring shouts of joy

from one end of the earth to the other.

⁹You show your care for the land by sending rain;

you make it rich and fertile.

You fill the streams with water;

you provide the earth with crops.

This is how you do it:

¹⁰you send abundant rain on the ploughed fields

and soak them with water;

you soften the soil with showers

and cause the young plants to grow.

¹¹What a rich harvest your goodness provides!

Wherever you go there is plenty.

¹²The pastures are filled with flocks;

the hillsides are full of joy.

¹³The fields are covered with sheep;

the valleys are full of wheat.

Everything shouts and sings for joy.