1 Heb “my voice.”
2 The imperfect verbal form is used here to express the psalmist’s request.
3 Heb “from the terror of [the] enemy.” “Terror” is used here metonymically for the enemy’s attacks that produce fear because they threaten the psalmist’s life.
4 Heb “workers of wickedness.”
5 Heb “who.” A new sentence was started here in the translation for stylistic reasons.
6 Heb “a bitter word.”
7 The psalmist uses the singular because he is referring to himself here as representative of a larger group.
8 Heb “and are unafraid.” The words “of retaliation” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
9 Heb “they give strength to themselves, an evil matter [or “word”].”
10 Heb “they report about hiding.”
11 Heb “they say.”
12 If this is a direct quotation (cf. , ), the pronoun “them” refers to the snares mentioned in the previous line. If it is an indirect quotation, then the pronoun may refer to the enemies themselves (cf. , which is ambiguous). Some translations retain the direct quotation but alter the pronoun to “us,” referring clearly to the enemies (cf. ).
13 Heb “search out, examine,” which here means (by metonymy) “devise.”
14 The has תַּמְנוּ (tamnu, “we are finished”), a Qal perfect first common plural form from the verbal root תָּמַם (tamam). Some understand this as the beginning of a quotation of the enemies’ words and translate, “we have completed,” but the Hiphil would seem to be required in this case. The present translation follows many medieval Hebrew in reading טָמְנוּ (tomnu, “they hide”), a Qal perfect third common plural form from the verbal root טָמַן (taman).
15 Heb “a searched-out search,” which is understood as referring here to a thoroughly planned plot to destroy the psalmist.
16 Heb “and the inner part of man, and a heart [is] deep.” The point seems to be that a man’s inner thoughts are incapable of being discovered. No one is a mind reader! Consequently the psalmist is vulnerable to his enemies’ well-disguised plots.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

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.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

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.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

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.

NLTNew Living Translation

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.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

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.

KJV 1900King James Version

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.

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