Prayer for Protection from Secret Enemies.
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.
1 Hear my voice, O God, in mycomplaint;
Guard my life from the terror of the enemy.
2 Hide me from the secret counselandconspiracy of the ungodly,
From the scheming of those who do wrong,
3 Who have sharpened their tongues like a sword.
They aim venomous words as arrows,
4 To shoot from ambush at the blameless [one];
Suddenly they shoot at him, without fear.
5 They encourage themselves in [their pursuit of] an evil agenda;
They talk of laying snares secretly;
They say, “Who will discover us?”
6 They devise acts of injustice,saying,
“We are ready with a well-conceived plan.”
For the inward thought and the heart of a man are deep (mysterious, unsearchable).
7 But God will shoot them with an [unexpected] arrow;
Suddenly they will be wounded.
8 So they will be caused to stumble;
Their own tongue is against them;
All who gaze at them will shake the head [in scorn].
9 Then all men will fear [God’s judgment];
They will declare the work of God,
And they will considerandwisely acknowledge what He has done.
10 The righteous will rejoice in the Lordand take refuge in Him;
All the upright in heart will gloryandoffer praise.