1 O God, hear my voice when I complain. Keep my life safe from the fear of those who hate me.

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

2 H ide me from the secret plans of the sinful and from the noise of those who do bad things.

Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked, from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:

3 T hey have made their tongues sharp like a sword. They use poison words like arrows.

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

4 T hey shoot at the man without blame from their hiding place. They are quick to shoot at him and are not afraid.

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

5 T hey talk each other into doing sinful things. They talk about setting hidden traps. They say, “Who will see them?”

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

6 T hey think of ways to do bad things, and say, “We have made a perfect plan!” For the inside thoughts and the heart of a man are deep.

They 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.

7 B ut God will shoot at them with an arrow. They will be hurt very soon.

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

8 T hey will be made to trip and fall. Their own tongue is against them. All who see them will shake their heads.

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

9 T hen all men will be afraid. They will tell about the work of God. And they will think about what He has done.

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

10 T he man who is right and good will be glad in the Lord and go to Him to be safe. All those whose hearts are right will give Him praise.

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