The Book of Psalms

Hear, O God, my voice of complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy.

Hide me from the scheming of the wicked, from the mob of workers of iniquity,

who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows,

ambushing the innocent in seclusion, shooting suddenly, without fear.

They hold fast to their evil purpose; they speak of hiding their snares. “Who will see them?” they say.

They devise injustice and say, “We have perfected a secret plan.” For the inner man and the heart are mysterious.

But God will shoot them with arrows; suddenly they will be wounded.

They will be made to stumble, their own tongues turned against them. All who see will shake their heads.

Then all mankind will fear and proclaim the work of God; so they will ponder what He has done.

Let the righteous rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in Him; let all the upright in heart exult.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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