1<To the chief music-maker. A Psalm. Of David.> O God, let the voice of my grief come to your ear: keep my life from the fear of those who are against me.

2Keep me safe from the secret purpose of wrongdoers; from the band of the workers of evil;

3Who make their tongues sharp like a sword, and whose arrows are pointed, even bitter words;

4So that in secret they may let loose their arrows at the upright, suddenly and unseen.

5They make themselves strong in an evil purpose; they make holes for secret nets; they say, Who will see it,

6Or make discovery of our secret purpose? The design is framed with care; and the inner thought of a man, and his heart, is deep.

7But God sends out an arrow against them; suddenly they are wounded.

8The evil of their tongues is the cause of their fall; all those who see them are shaking their heads at them.

9And in fear men make public the works of God; and giving thought to his acts they get wisdom.

10The upright will be glad in the Lord and have hope in him; and all the lovers of righteousness will give him glory.