1 H ear my voice, O God, in my complaint: Preserve my life from fear of the enemy.

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

2 H ide me from the secret counsel of evil-doers, From the tumult of the workers of iniquity;

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

3 W ho have whet their tongue like a sword, And have aimed their arrows, even bitter words,

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

4 T hat they may shoot in secret places at the perfect: Suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.

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

5 T hey encourage themselves in an evil purpose; They commune of laying snares privily; They say, Who will see them?

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

6 T hey search out iniquities; We have accomplished, say they, a diligent search: And the inward thought and the heart of every one is deep.

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

7 B ut God will shoot at them; With an arrow suddenly shall they be wounded.

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

8 S o they shall be made to stumble, their own tongue being against them: All that see them shall wag the head.

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

9 A nd all men shall fear; And they shall declare the work of God, And shall wisely consider of his doing.

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

10 T he righteous shall be glad in Jehovah, and shall take refuge in him; And all the upright in heart shall glory.

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