Psalms 64

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[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 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.

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.