Psalms 64 – Preserve My Life from Fear of the Enemy
A prayer for protection from secret plots and bitter words.
In this chapter of the Psalms overview, David prays for protection from enemies who scheme in secret, sharpening their tongues like swords and aiming bitter words as though shooting arrows at an innocent target. He asks God to hear his voice before real harm is done.
Hear, O God, my voice when I complain, From dread peril by the foe, wilt thou guard my life.
Wilt thou hide me, From the conclave of evil-doers, From the crowd of workers of iniquity.
Who have sharpened, like a sword, their tongue, Have made ready their arrow—a bitter word;
To shoot, in secret places, at the blameless one, Suddenly they shoot at him, and fear not.
They strengthen for them a wicked word, They talk of hiding snares, They have said, Who can see them?
They devise perverse things, They have completed the device well devised, Both the intent of each one, and the mind, are unsearchable.
Once let God have shot at them an arrow, Suddenly have appeared their own wounds!
When they were to have ruined another, their tongue smote themselves, All who observe them take flight.
Therefore have all men feared,—And have told the doing of God, And, his work, have considered.
The righteous man shall rejoice in Yahweh, and seek refuge in him, Then shall glory—all who are upright in heart.