For the music director: a Davidic psalm.

O God, hear me as I state my complaint.

Preserve my life from the enemy’s terror.

Shield me from the evildoer’s conspiracy,

from the upheaval of people who do evil,

whose tongues are as sharp as swords

and aim bitter words like arrows

to shoot in stealth at the innocent,

shooting suddenly and fearlessly.

They are making their evil plans firm.

They brag about setting secret traps,

asking “Who would see them?”

They plot injustice and say

“We have completed a perfect plan!”

A person’s soul and heart are deep.

Yet God will shoot them with arrows

and their wounds will suddenly appear.

Their tongue will be their undoing.

Anyone who sees them will run away.

Then everyone will be afraid

and tell about the work of God

and think about what God has done.

The righteous will rejoice in Adonai

and take shelter in Adonai.

Let all those who are upright in heart offer praise!