Psalm 64

New International Reader’s Version

1 God, hear me as I tell you my problem. Don’t let my enemies kill me.2 Hide me from evil people who talk about how to harm me. Hide me from those people who are planning to do evil.3 They make their tongues like sharp swords. They aim their mean words like deadly arrows.4 They shoot from their hiding places at people who aren’t guilty. They shoot quickly and aren’t afraid of being caught.5 They help one another make evil plans. They talk about hiding their traps. They say, ‘Who can see what we are doing?’6 They make plans to do what is evil. They say, ‘We have thought up a perfect plan!’ The hearts and minds of people are so clever!7 But God will shoot my enemies with his arrows. He will suddenly strike them down.8 He will turn their own words against them. He will destroy them. All those who see them will shake their heads and look down on them.9 All people will respect God. They will tell about his works. They will think about what he has done.10 Godly people will be full of joy because of what the LORD has done. They will go to him for safety. All those whose hearts are honest will be proud of what he has done.

Psalm 64

English Standard Version

1 To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy. (Ps 55:2)2 Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the throng of evildoers, (Ps 55:14)3 who whet their tongues like swords, who aim bitter words like arrows, (Ps 11:2; Ps 57:4)4 shooting from ambush at the blameless, shooting at him suddenly and without fear. (Ps 10:8; Ps 55:19)5 They hold fast to their evil purpose; they talk of laying snares secretly, thinking, “Who can see them?” (Job 22:13; Ps 140:5; Jer 23:14; Eze 13:22)6 They search out injustice, saying, “We have accomplished a diligent search.” For the inward mind and heart of a man are deep. (Ps 49:11)7 But God shoots his arrow at them; they are wounded suddenly. (Ps 7:12; Ps 58:7)8 They are brought to ruin, with their own tongues turned against them; all who see them will wag their heads. (Ps 22:7; Ps 40:3; Pr 12:13; Pr 18:7; Jer 18:16; Jer 48:27)9 Then all mankind fears; they tell what God has brought about and ponder what he has done. (Ps 64:8; Jer 50:28; Jer 51:10)10 Let the righteous one rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him! Let all the upright in heart exult! (Job 22:19; Ps 7:10; Ps 11:1; Ps 32:11)