2Hear my voice, O God, when I plead;guard my life from the enemy’s terror.
3Hide me from a band of evildoers,from a crowd of wrongdoers,
4who whet their tongues like swords;they aim their arrows—cruel words—
5to shoot from hiding at someone blameless,shooting suddenly and without fear.
6They arm themselves with an evil word;when they speak, it is to conceal traps;aThey arm themselves … conceal traps Meaning of Heb. uncertain. they think, “Who will see them?”
7bMeaning of verse uncertain. Let the wrongdoings they have concealed,cthey have concealed Reading ṭamnu with some mss. (cf. Minḥat Shai) and Rashi; most printed editions tamnu, traditionally rendered “they have accomplished.” each one’s inner, secret thoughts,be wholly exposed.
8God shall shoot them with arrows;they shall be struck down suddenly.
9Their tongue shall be their downfall;all who see them shall recoil in horror;
10all people shall stand in awe;they shall proclaim the work of Godwhose deed they perceived.
11In GOD shall the righteous rejoiceand take refuge;all the upright shall exult.