Protection from Evildoers

For the choir director. A Davidic psalm.

1God, hear my voice when I complain.a

Protect my life from the terror of the enemy.b

2Hide me from the scheming of wicked people,c

from the mob of evildoers,d

3who sharpen their tongues like swords

and aim bitter words like arrows,e

4shooting from concealed places at the innocent.

They shoot at him suddenly and are not afraid.f

5They encourage each other in an evil plan;g, h

they talk about hiding traps and say,

“Who will see them? ”i, j

6They devise crimes and say,

“We have perfected a secret plan.”k

The inner man and the heart are mysterious.

7But God will shoot them with arrows;

suddenly, they will be wounded.l

8They will be made to stumble;

their own tongues work against them.

All who see them will shake their heads.m

9Then everyone will fear

and will tell about God’s work,

for they will understand what He has done.n

10The righteous one rejoices in the LORD

and takes refuge in Him;

all those who are upright in heart

will offer praise.o