otcanon
Psalms 64
The psalmist calls on Jehovah to shield him from conspirators whose sharpened tongues and secret arrows target the blameless. Their counsel is hidden and their hearts deep in craftiness, yet Jehovah answers with His own sudden arrow — turning their own words back on them. The reversal is public: observers read the event as the work of God and fear accordingly. The psalm closes on the righteous finding their ground of gladness and trust in Jehovah alone, the upright heart being the condition on which that confidence rests.
1
Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.
2
Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:
3
Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:
4
That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.
5
They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?
6
They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep.
7
But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded.
8
So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away.
9
And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing.
10
The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.
