1 David prayeth for deliverance, complaining of his enemies: 7 he promiseth himself to see such an evident destruction of his enemies, that the righteous shall rejoice at it.
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
1. Hear my avoice, O God, in my prayer: bpreserve my life from fear of the enemy.
2. cHide me from the dsecret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:
3. Who ewhet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:
4. That they may shoot fin secret at the perfect: gsuddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.
5. They hencourage themselves in an evil 1matter: they commune 2of laying snares *privily; they isay, Who shall see them?
6. They jsearch out iniquities; 3they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is kdeep.
7. But lGod shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly 4shall they be wounded.
8. So they mshall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all nthat see them shall oflee away.
9. And pall men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall qwisely consider of his doing.
10. The rrighteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy. Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity: Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words: That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not. They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them? They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep. But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded. So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away. And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing. The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.
Metrical version
Psalm 64
C.M. Ballerma
When I to thee my prayer make, Lord, to my voice give ear; My life save from the enemy, of whom I stand in fear. Me from their secret counsel hide who do live wickedly; From insurrection of those men that work iniquity: Who do their tongues with malice whet, and make them cut like swords; In whose bent bows are arrows set, ev'n sharp and bitter words: That they may at the perfect man in secret aim their shot; Yea, suddenly they dare at him to shoot, and fear it not. In ill encourage they themselves, and their snares close do lay: Together conference they have; Who shall them see? they say. They have searched out iniquities, a perfect search they keep: Of each of them the inward thought, and very heart, is deep. God shall an arrow shoot at them, and wound them suddenly: So their own tongue shall them confound; all who them see shall fly. And on all men a fear shall fall, God's works they shall declare; For they shall wisely notice take what these his doings are. In God the righteous shall rejoice, and trust upon his might; Yea, they shall greatly glory all in heart that are upright.
This psalm contains, (1.) David's earnest supplications for preservation from his enemies, who were so spiteful in their calumnious reproaches; so close and subtile in their malicious plots; and so industrious and active, in executing their cruel projects, ver. 1-6. (2.) His predictions, that God, by just vengeance, would quickly render these enemies a terror to themselves and others, and an occasion of holy joy and confidence to the saints, ver. 7-10.
While I sing, let me commit my spiritual enemies into the hand of God, who is able to destroy them, and will quickly, to my everlasting comfort, tread them all under my feet.