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

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

2 H idest me from the secret counsel of evil doers, From the tumult of workers of iniquity.

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

3 W ho sharpened as a sword their tongue, They directed their arrow -- a bitter word.

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

4 T o shoot in secret places the perfect, Suddenly they shoot him, and fear not.

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

5 T hey strengthen for themselves an evil thing, They recount of the hiding of snares, They have said, `Who doth look at it?'

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

6 T hey search out perverse things, `We perfected a searching search,' And the inward part of man, and the heart deep.

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

7 A nd God doth shoot them an arrow, Sudden have been their wounds,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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