The Bible — World English Bible
Psalm 64
In brief
Psalm 64 is a prayer of David given to the chief musician. It rises in the face of threats that are mostly spoken: tongues sharpened like swords, words shot like arrows, plots prepared in the dark. David does not take revenge. He pours out his complaint to God and asks him to protect his life. The psalm says that God sees what people think they can hide, and that the tongue of the wicked brings about their fall. It ends with the righteous, who rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him.
The chapter in 4 parts
1Hear my voice, God, in my complaint. Preserve my life from fear of the enemy.
2Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, from the noisy crowd of the ones doing evil;
3who sharpen their tongue like a sword, and aim their arrows, deadly words,
4to shoot innocent men from ambushes. They shoot at him suddenly and fearlessly.
5They encourage themselves in evil plans. They talk about laying snares secretly. They say, “Who will see them?”
6They plot injustice, saying, “We have made a perfect plan!” Surely man’s mind and heart are cunning.
7But God will shoot at them. They will be suddenly struck down with an arrow.
8Their own tongues shall ruin them. All who see them will shake their heads.
9All mankind shall be afraid. They shall declare the work of God, and shall wisely ponder what he has done.
10The righteous shall be glad in Yahweh, and shall take refuge in him. All the upright in heart shall praise him!
Key verses
Hear my voice, God, in my complaint. Preserve my life from fear of the enemy.
David prays aloud, even in his complaint. He names his fear instead of hiding it and asks God to protect his life.
who sharpen their tongue like a sword, and aim their arrows, deadly words, to shoot innocent men from ambushes. They shoot at him suddenly and fearlessly.
The tongue is compared to a sword and to arrows. The psalm reminds us that slander and bitter words can wound as surely as a weapon.
They encourage themselves in evil plans. They talk about laying snares secretly. They say, “Who will see them?”
Who will see them? The plotters believe they act under cover. The psalm answers that God sees what people do not.
The righteous shall be glad in Yahweh, and shall take refuge in him. All the upright in heart shall praise him!
The last verse contrasts the restlessness of the wicked with the peace of the righteous, who find their joy and refuge in God, not in their own defense.
Bible verses to meditate on
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Frequently asked questions about Psalm 64
What does Psalm 64 mean?
Psalm 64 is the prayer of a man threatened by words and hidden plots. He entrusts his fear to God, describes the wickedness of his opponents, then states that God will bring them down through their own words. The message is that God sees what is hidden and that the righteous can take shelter in him.
How can I pray with Psalm 64 when I am the victim of lies or slander?
Follow the movement of the psalm. Tell God what you feel, as David does in verse 1. Ask him to protect you rather than answering with the same violence yourself. Then read verse 10 again to choose to rejoice in him and take refuge in him, leaving justice in his hands.
Who wrote Psalm 64?
The title credits David and addresses the psalm to the chief musician. The text does not name the enemies it has in view or the episode of his life it matches. This lack of detail lets every reader take it up in the face of their own difficulties.
Articles quoting Psalm 64
World English Bible translation — public domain.