1 ¶ Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer; preserve my life from fear of the enemy.

To the Overseer. -- A Psalm of David. Hear, O God, my voice, in my meditation, From the fear of an enemy Thou keepest my life,

2 H ide me from the secret counsel of the wicked, from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:

Hidest me from the secret counsel of evil doers, From the tumult of workers of iniquity.

3 W ho whet their tongue like a sword and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words

Who sharpened as a sword their tongue, They directed their arrow -- a bitter word.

4 T hat they may shoot in secret at the perfect; suddenly do they shoot at him and fear not.

To shoot in secret places the perfect, Suddenly they shoot him, and fear not.

5 T hey encourage themselves in an evil matter; they attempt to hide the snares; they say, Who shall see them?

They strengthen for themselves an evil thing, They recount of the hiding of snares, They have said, `Who doth look at it?'

6 T hey search out iniquities; they perfect and put into effect that which they have invented in the inward thought of each one of them and that which they have devised in their heart.

They search out perverse things, `We perfected a searching search,' And the inward part of man, and the heart deep.

7 ¶ But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded.

And God doth shoot them an arrow, Sudden have been their wounds,

8 S o they shall make their own council and agreements to fall upon themselves; all that see them shall flee away.

And they cause him to stumble, Against them their own tongue, Every looker on them fleeth away.

9 A nd all men shall fear and shall declare the work of God, for they shall understand his doing.

And all men fear, and declare the work of God, And His deed they have considered wisely.

10 T he righteous shall be glad in the LORD and shall become secure in him, and all the upright in heart shall glory in him.

The righteous doth rejoice in Jehovah, And hath trusted in Him, And boast themselves do all the upright of heart!