Psalms

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PSALM 64^*

Treacherous Conspirators Punished by God

1For the leader. A psalm of David.

I

2O God, hear my anguished voice;

from a dreadful foe protect my life.

3Hide me from the malicious crowd,

the mob of evildoers.

4They sharpen their tongues like swords,

bend their bows of poison words.^a

5They shoot at the innocent from ambush,

they shoot him in a moment and do not fear.

6They resolve on their wicked plan;

they conspire to set snares;

they say: “Who will see us?”

7They devise wicked schemes,

conceal the schemes they devise;

the designs of their hearts are hidden.^b

II

8God shoots an arrow at them;

in a moment they are struck down.^c

9They are brought down by their own tongues;

all who see them flee.^d

10Every person fears and proclaims God’s actions,

they ponder his deeds.

11The righteous rejoices and takes refuge in the LORD;

all the upright give praise.^e

* [Psalm 64] A lament of a person overwhelmed by the malice of the wicked who are depicted in the Psalms as the enemies of the righteous (Ps 64:2–7). When people see God bringing upon the wicked the evil they intended against others, they will know who is the true ruler of the world (Ps 64:8–10). The final verse is a vow of praise (Ps 64:11).

a. [64:4] Ps 11:2; 37:14; 55:22; 57:5.

b. [64:7] Ps 140:3; Prv 6:14.

c. [64:8] Ps 7:13–14; 38:3; Dt 32:42.

d. [64:9] Ps 5:11; 44:14; 52:6.

e. [64:11] Ps 36:8; 57:2.