Psalm 64–65

Psalm 64

For the choir director; a psalm by David. 

¹Hear my voice, O God, when I complain. 

Protect my life from a terrifying enemy. 

²Hide me from the secret plots of criminals, 

from the mob of troublemakers. 

³They sharpen their tongues like swords. 

They aim bitter words like arrows 

⁴to shoot at innocent people from their hiding places. 

They shoot at them suddenly, without any fear. 

⁵They encourage one another in their evil plans. 

They talk about setting traps and say, 

“Who can see them?” 

⁶They search for the perfect crime and say, 

“We have perfected a foolproof scheme!” 

Human nature and the human heart are a mystery! 

⁷But God will shoot them with an arrow. 

Suddenly, they will be struck dead. 

⁸They will trip over their own tongues. 

Everyone who sees them will shake his head. 

⁹Everyone will be afraid and conclude, 

“This is an act of God!” 

They will learn from what he has done. 

¹⁰Righteous people will find joy in the Lord and take refuge in him. 

Everyone whose motives are decent will be able to brag. 

Psalm 65

For the choir director; a psalm by David; a song. 

¹You are praised with silence in Zion, O God, 

and vows ⸤made⸥ to you must be kept. 

²You are the one who hears prayers. 

Everyone will come to you. 

³Various sins overwhelm me. 

You are the one who forgives our rebellious acts. 

⁴Blessed is the person you choose 

and invite to live with you in your courtyards. 

We will be filled with good food from your house, 

from your holy temple. 

⁵You answer us with awe-inspiring acts ⸤done⸥ in righteousness, 

O God, our savior, 

the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the most distant sea, 

⁶the one who set the mountains in place with his strength, 

the one who is clothed with power, 

⁷the one who calms the roar of the seas, 

their crashing waves, 

and the uproar of the nations. 

⁸Those who live at the ends of the earth are in awe of your miraculous signs. 

The lands of the morning sunrise and evening sunset sing joyfully. 

⁹You take care of the earth, and you water it. 

You make it much richer than it was. 

(The river of God is filled with water.) 

You provide grain for them. 

Indeed, you even prepare the ground. 

¹⁰You drench plowed fields ⸤with rain⸥ 

and level their clumps of soil. 

You soften them with showers 

and bless what grows in them. 

¹¹You crown the year with your goodness, 

and richness overflows wherever you are. 

¹²The pastures in the desert overflow ⸤with richness⸥. 

The hills are surrounded with joy. 

¹³The pastures are covered with flocks. 

The valleys are carpeted with grain. 

All of them shout triumphantly. Indeed, they sing.