Psalms 64

Hidden Arrows, Exposed Schemes, and Refuge in the Righteous Judge

plea for preservation from dread -> exposure of secret verbal violence -> description of hardened conspiratorial planning -> sudden divine reversal -> public fear and reflection -> righteous joy and refuge in the LORD

World English Bible, Public Domain

1 Hear my voice, God, in my complaint. Preserve my life from fear of the enemy.

2 Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, from the noisy crowd of the ones doing evil;

3 who sharpen their tongue like a sword, and aim their arrows, deadly words,

4 to shoot innocent men from ambushes. They shoot at him suddenly and fearlessly.

5 They encourage themselves in evil plans. They talk about laying snares secretly. They say, “Who will see them?”

6 They plot injustice, saying, “We have made a perfect plan!” Surely man’s mind and heart are cunning.

7 But God will shoot at them. They will be suddenly struck down with an arrow.

8 Their own tongues shall ruin them. All who see them will shake their heads.

9 All mankind shall be afraid. They shall declare the work of God, and shall wisely ponder what he has done.

10 The righteous shall be glad in Yahweh, and shall take refuge in him. All the upright in heart shall praise him!

Key Terms

שָׁמַע shama H8085
קוֹל qol H6963
שִׂיחַ siach H7879
נָצַר natsar H5341
חַיִּים chayyim H2416
פַּחַד pachad H6343
אוֹיֵב oyev H341
סָתַר satar H5641
סוֹד sod H5475
רָשָׁע rasha H7563
רִגְשָׁה rigshah H7285
פֹּעֲלֵי אָוֶן poale aven H6466/H205

World English Bible (WEB): Public Domain Scripture text · License details