1Listen to me, O God, as I offer my lament!
Protect my life from the enemy’s terrifying attacks.

2Hide me from the plots of evil men,
from the crowd of evildoers.

3They sharpen their tongues like a sword;
they aim their arrow, a slanderous charge,

4in order to shoot down the innocent in secluded places.
They shoot at him suddenly and are unafraid of retaliation.

5They encourage one another to carry out their evil deed.
They plan how to hide snares,
and boast, “Who will see them?”

6They devise unjust schemes;
they disguise a well-conceived plot.
Man’s inner thoughts cannot be discovered.

7But God will shoot at them;
suddenly they will be wounded by an arrow.

8Their slander will bring about their demise.
All who see them will shudder,

9and all people will fear.
They will proclaim what God has done,
and reflect on his deeds.

10The godly will rejoice in the Lord
and take shelter in him.
All the morally upright will boast.