Psalm 64-65

Common English Bible

Psalm 64

For the music leader. A psalm of David.

64 Listen to me when I complain, God!
    Protect my life from the enemy’s terror!
²Hide me from the secret plots of wicked people;
    hide me from the schemes of evildoers
³        who sharpen their tongues like swords.
They aim their arrow—a cruel word—
⁴    from their hiding places
    so as to shoot an innocent person.
    They shoot without warning and without fear.
⁵They encourage themselves with evil words.
    They plan on laying traps in secret.
        “Who will be able to see them?” they ask.
⁶        “Let someone try to expose our crimes!
        We’ve devised a perfect plot!
        It’s deep within the human mind and heart.”^[a]

⁷But God will shoot them with an arrow!
    Without warning, they will be wounded!
⁸The Lord will make them trip over their own tongues;
    everyone who sees them will just shake their heads.
⁹Then all people will honor God,
    will announce the act of God,
    will understand it was God’s work.
¹⁰Let the righteous rejoice in the Lord;
    let them take refuge in him;
    let everyone whose heart is in the right place give praise!

Psalm 65

For the music leader. A psalm of David. A song.

65 God of Zion, to you even silence is praise.
    Promises made to you are kept—
²    you listen to prayer—
    and all living things come to you.
³When wrongdoings become too much for me,
    you forgive our sins.
⁴How happy is the one you choose to bring close,
    the one who lives in your courtyards!
We are filled full by the goodness of your house,
    by the holiness of your temple.

⁵In righteousness you answer us,
    by your awesome deeds,
    God of our salvation—
    you, who are the security
        of all the far edges of the earth,
        even the distant seas.
⁶    You establish the mountains by your strength;
    you are dressed in raw power.
⁷    You calm the roaring seas;
        calm the roaring waves,
        calm the noise of the nations.
⁸Those who dwell on the far edges
        stand in awe of your acts.
    You make the gateways
        of morning and evening sing for joy.
⁹You visit the earth and make it abundant,
    enriching it greatly
        by God’s stream, full of water.
You provide people with grain
    because that is what you’ve decided.
¹⁰Drenching the earth’s furrows,
        leveling its ridges,
    you soften it with rain showers;
        you bless its growth.
¹¹You crown the year with your goodness;
    your paths overflow with rich food.
¹²Even the desert pastures drip with it,
    and the hills are dressed in pure joy.
¹³The meadowlands are covered with flocks,
    the valleys decked out in grain—
        they shout for joy;
        they break out in song!